REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 321 



extensive, but latterly tiles have been all but universally em- 

 ployed. It may be said generally, that about as much yet 

 requires draining as has been drained. A considerable extent 

 of permanent pasture land in the comity admits of extensive 

 improvement by means of tile draining. With the exception of 

 the estate of Corrie, to which more particular reference will 

 subsequently be made, comparatively little of this class of land 

 has been satisfactorily dried. Open drains have been cut in 

 many parts, but few covered ones have been made. L.7 per 

 imperial acre is about the average cost of drainage, at the depths 

 and distances apart which are necessary in Dumfriesshire. 



2. Liming. — Liming has been very extensively carried out 

 in Dumfriesshire, especially of late years, on permanent pasture 

 lands. Previous to the opening of the Caledonian and Glasgow 

 and South-Western Railways, many parts of the county were 

 situated at such long distances from the lime-works that the 

 cartage cost more than the original price of the lime itself. It was, 

 therefore, sparingly applied in these districts. Now, however, 

 that it can be had so reasonably at the various railway stations, 

 it is being extensively applied to both cropping and pasture 

 land. The quantity given per acre varies according to the char- 

 acter of the soil, and the purpose for which the land is to be sub- 

 sequently employed. On land under regular rotation, from 20 to 

 50 Carlisle bushels are given, the general quantity being from 30 

 to 40. (A Carlisle bushel is equal to 3 imperial bushels.) On 

 permanent pasture land about 50 or 60 bushels are an ordinary 

 allowance, while some apply as much as over 100 Carlisle 

 bushels. Practical men are beginning to be convinced that it is 

 highly profitable to give a liberal allowance of lime to permanent 

 pasture land, situated at an intermediate altitude between the 

 high hill pastures and the low arable farms, and the reporter 

 feels assured that much improvement will be wrought in this 

 way in coming years. There are several extensive lime-works 

 in the county — at Kelhead (Cummertrees), Closeburn, Barjarg, 

 and other places — but part of the lime which is used is brought 

 from Cumberland. 



Before passing from this subject, the reporter proposes to give 

 a short account of the improvements in draining and liming, 

 which have recently been carried out on an extensive scale on 

 the estate of Corrie, the property of Andrew Jardine, Esq. of 

 Lanrick Castle. Mr Jardine became the proprietor of the 

 Barony of Corrie at Whitsunday 1853. The leases of most of 

 the farms expired in the following year. New leases were 

 granted for a period of nineteen years, on the express condition 

 that extensive improvements were to be carried out in the 

 draining and liming of pasture lands. The proposals which 

 were made on the part of Mr Jardine proved acceptable to 



