330 REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



does not rank high as an agricultural county, we question if it is 

 second to any as a pastoral ; for stock farmers seem to grudge no 

 expense in improving their flocks and herds by procuring the 

 best blood of both cattle and sheep ; while, on the other hand, 

 arable farmers generally seem disinclined to expend sufficient 

 capital in the improvement of their land by liberal manuring 

 and cultivation, the consequence being, that the crops grown in 

 Dumfriesshire are certainly not what they ought or might be. 

 while the sheep stocks are almost perfection. Why this should 

 be the case we cannot tell, unless the stock farmer has more 

 means at command than the arable. 



Pastoral farming, by which we mean the farming of land 

 which is, and generally speaking always has been, unploughed 

 and entirely grazed, is chiefly carried on in Upper Annandale 

 and Nithsdale, and throughout the greater part of Eskdale ; and 

 some of the finest farms in this class in the country are to be 

 found in the districts mentioned, especially Eskdalemoor, where 

 the soil is strong and deep, and the grasses succulent, raising 

 sheep of great size and bone. 



On many of the pastoral farms of Dumfriesshire 2000 to 4000 

 sheep are kept, and probably from 100 to 150 head of grazing 

 cattle, sometimes dairy cows, which do uncommonly well feeding 

 on this strong but coarse pasture. No ploughing or cultivation of 

 any kind is done ; but usually on such farms a large quantity of 

 natural hay is cut (frequently 100 acres) to give to the sheep 

 during winter in case of storms, and upon which the dairy cows 

 are also wintered; and it is surprising to see the condition in which 

 they come out in spring upon this keep alone. 



Often there are superior dwelling-houses upon these farms; but 

 being in out-of-the-way districts, they are not often occupied by 

 their tenants, who have generally another farm, upon which they 

 reside, in the low country. The life of an entirely pastoral 

 farmer is a very easy one : the only busy times in the year being 

 clipping, lambing, and weaning ; all of which are, however, very 

 important occasions. Lambing on the hills generally begins 

 about the 1 0th April, continuing until the same time in May ; 

 clipping is done in June and July, the last week of the former 

 and the first week of the latter month ; the lambs are weaned in 

 August, and the old ewes drafted in October. One or two 

 horses are generally kept to cart coals, peats, meal, &c, for the 

 shepherds, as well as to lead home the hay when secured. 



We have thus endeavoured to describe as simply and lucidly as 

 possible the different systems of farming practised in Dumfries- 

 shire ; and shall now pass on to the various kinds of stock kept, 

 viz., horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. 



First, then, horses for agricultural uses, as well as for riding, 

 driving, and hunting. For agricultural purposes, there are two 



