312 REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



"Were the writer disposed to give way to sentiment, he might 

 give expression to a sad lament that the substantial beef-pro- 

 ducing Galloways should be supplanted to so large an extent by 

 the less familiar and less imposing Ayrshires ; but as his present 

 duty is to act as a " reporter," he rests contented with simply 

 recording the changed state of things. Besides, it cannot be 

 reasonably expected that farming should be much influenced by 

 sentimental considerations. The object of the farmer is pro- 

 fessedly to obtain the largest return he can secure for his land, 

 and therefore the first and most natural question for him is, 

 what pays best ? If observation or experience teaches him that 

 Ayrshires yield a larger return than Galloways, a mere feeling 

 of attachment to a particular breed of cattle cannot be expected 

 to induce him to hesitate in effecting a change, seeing his main 

 object is one of profit. It will be evident that we are here 

 speaking of the tenant farmer who is making his livelihood from 

 agriculture, and not of the person who has come in some way 

 or other into the possession of money, and who takes to farming 

 as a mere agreeable pastime, and with whom profit is a mere 

 secondary consideration. The latter may be left to follow his 

 fancies without raising the question whether or not these prove 

 profitable, whereas with the former profit is everything. 



It is a fair question for debate, whether in such a county as 

 Dumfriesshire, Ayrshires or Galloways are the more profitable, 

 and the reporter believes that, although the tide of public senti- 

 ment has set in in favour of the former breed, yet many of those 

 in the county who are usually looked to and followed as high 

 authorities on agricultural questions would be found to rank 

 themselves on the side of the Galloways. The county is so 

 diversified in respect of both soil and climate that no monotonous 

 rule can be laid down which should be universally followed. 

 This diversity is not only found in different districts, but in 

 different parts of the same district. In fact, farms are often 

 found alongside of each other which in their natural character- 

 istics have very little in common. Some are therefore adapted 

 for dairies, while others are not. 



3. Shorthorn and other Breeds. — In addition to Galloways and 

 Ayrshires, there are a few cattle of the Shorthorn breed kept 

 within the county. The greater number of these are kept on 

 the heavy land adjoining the Border, though there are isolated 

 farms in other parts of the county on which they are reared. 

 The quality of the animals of this breed is on the whole pretty 

 good. Mr Carruthers of Dormont had for some years an annual 

 sale of first-class Shorthorns, which did much to diffuse pure 

 blood throughout the county. The number of pure-bred Short- 

 horns is very limited. It is found that the Ayrshires milk 

 better than they do ; and when a Shorthorn bull is put to the 



