REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 295 



are given to both these kinds of stock, especially in seasons 

 when markets are low. When oats are given to cattle, they are 

 generally bruised ; and it is not uncommon for farmers to have 

 bruising machines attached to their thrashing-mills. Such of 

 the surplus stock of grain as is not bought by the millers in 

 each district, is sold in the Dumfries and Carlisle markets. A 

 large number of farmers in the lower part of the county have 

 long been in the habit of disposing of their grain at the latter 

 place. The grain market used long to be held at the centre of 

 the principal street in Dumfries, and was, on that account, very 

 unsatisfactory. Grain dealers from a distance, and especially 

 such as came from the other side of the Border, justly complained 

 that when they attended the Dumfries market, they had no 

 means of ascertaining who had grain for sale, as there was no 

 place where samples could be exposed ; hence they absented 

 themselves, and thereby lessened the competition. In the 

 autumn of 1866, a committee of gentlemen was formed with the 

 view of organising a grain market, which should be held in a 

 hall, situated in some central locality, and which should also be 

 confined to a limited time. One difficulty was at once sur- 

 mounted by Mr James Sloan generously placing the Market Hall 

 at their disposal. It is situated in the immediate vicinity of the 

 Cattle Market, and there a regular sample market has been con- 

 ducted for the last twelve months. This arrangement has answered 

 the purpose admirably ; and the reporter would venture to 

 express the earnest hope that nothing will be awanting on the 

 part of the producers to make it still more successful. An open 

 sample market is unquestionably for the benefit of the farmer, 

 for it enables him to submit his article to the inspection of a 

 greater number of purchasers than was possible under the 

 previous system, and he thus reaps the advantage which competi- 

 tion never fails to carry along with it. 



Until about twenty-five years ago, a large quantity of grain — 

 wheat, barley, and oats — used to be sent out of the county from 

 the ports of Annan and Dumfries. Previous to that time, the 

 Dumfriesshire arable farmer depended on three sources for the 

 payment of his rent — grain, pork (in the feeding of which the 

 green crop was mainly consumed), and young cattle. Now, the 

 first source of revenue is not much looked to, at least directly. 

 The greater portion of it is given to sheep and cattle, to prepare 

 them for the fat market. Moreover, not only is little grain now 

 exported, but large quantities of feeding stuffs, such as Indian 

 and bean meals, are imported ; thus showing how speedily and 

 completely the practice of a district, in regard to such things, 

 may change. 



