REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 325 



a later period, before so many of tliem were stored in the field 

 for consumption by sheep, there was comparatively little outside 

 work for women after the time when the potatoes were lifted. 

 Now, however, all persons capable of shawing turnips are almost 

 as constantly employed, when the weather permits, during the 

 last two months of the year as at any other season, thereby en- 

 tailing a largely increased expenditure upon the farmer. Thus 

 the iucrease in the productiveness of the soil is much greater 

 than appears from the rise in rents which has taken place, for 

 the farmers have not only this increased rent to provide against, 

 but also a heavier manure account to pay than formerly, in 

 addition to nearly one-half more in servants' wages than twenty- 

 five years ago. 



5. Auction-Marts. — The introduction of auction-marts has 

 changed the methods of effecting sales in the south of Scotland 

 as elsewhere. Three marts have been established in Dumfries 

 for several years, all of them in buildings erected for the pur- 

 pose, and one in Lockerbie. At every one of these an immense 

 number of animals fit for the fat market, and store cattle 

 and sheep, are weekly exposed for sale. The system has been 

 gradually growing in favour, and bids fair to revolutionise the old 

 methods of disposing of stock. Before their introduction, all the 

 fat stock fed in the county, except what was bought for home 

 consumption, was consigned to salesmen in Liverpool and else- 

 where. Now, the greater number of the animals are sold in these 

 marts, and they are principally bought by butchers from the 

 populous towns in the north of England, only a small propor- 

 tion of what used to be sent to Liverpool now finding its way 

 to that market. In addition to their other advantages, the 

 auction-marts have this recommendation, that the feeder can 

 dispose of any, even the smallest number of cattle or sheep at 

 them ; whereas, under the former system, unless he had a large 

 number to dispose of, he required to combine with one or more 

 of his neighbours before he could send his stock to Liverpool at 

 a reasonable expense. 



Our remarks under the different sections have extended to 

 such a length that little remains to be said. Great as is the 

 progress which the agriculturists of Dumfriesshire have made, 

 much yet remains to be accomplished. The writer would be 

 trespassing beyond his legitimate province were he to speculate 

 as to what should be done in the future, his task being con- 

 fined to "reporting" on the past. He has every confidence, 

 from his intimate knowledge of the tenant-farmers of the 

 county, that they will continue, as heretofore, to be industrious 

 and enterprising. 



