334 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



fifty years, and land which, within that time, was simply grow- 

 ing wild heather, is now, by paring, draining, and cultivation, 

 bearing excellent grain and green crops. There is yet, however, a 

 very large extent of moss to break in, which will be the work of 

 many years, but if this was accomplished the improvement of the 

 low lands would be almost complete ; and we know of no better 

 subject for improvement than the wide tract of country known 

 as Lochar Moss, the land which has been already reclaimed 

 from it having proved very productive. Draining has been 

 carried on very extensively for the last twenty years, and on 

 many arable farms there is scarcely a field undrained, while on 

 others very little has been done ; and this operation is now 

 being extended to the low hill pastures, so that in the course 

 of ten years little land, high or low, should be left wet. On 

 many estates throughout the county the farm-house, offices, and 

 cottages have been lately much improved, especially on the 

 Duke of Buccleuch's estate in Upper Nithsdale, where the whole 

 of the buildings are in first-rate order, and most of the dwelling- 

 houses, especially on the larger farms, resembling gentlemen's 

 mansions. Under such an enlightened and generous landlord, 

 the tenantry enjoy special advantages ; and the contrast be- 

 tween the appearance of the country around Drumlanrig gener- 

 ally, as compared with the lower district of Annandale, is very 

 marked. Holstane and Tibbers, the two home-farms of the Duke 

 of Buccleuch, will well repay a visit to those interested in farm- 

 ing, the buildings being in the model style, while at the former 

 a first class Ayrshire, and at the latter a Galloway stock is kept. 

 Although the farm-houses and buildings are generally good 

 throughout the county, there are no very fine steadings, such 

 as are met with in many counties ; still the homesteads of Hol- 

 stane and Tibbers, Gateslack and Drumcrub, in the parish of 

 Durrisdeer; Porterstown and Barndennoch, in the parish of 

 Keir ; Kirkland and Dabfibble, in the parish of Kirkmichael ; 

 Pennersaughs and Broacllee, in the parish of Middlebie — all on 

 the estate of the Duke of Buccleuch ; Old Gretna and Long- 

 bridgemoor, on the estate of the Earl of Mansfield ; Howes, the 

 property of Mr Mackenzie of Newbie ; and Stapleton Burn, the 

 property of Mr Critchley of Stapleton, are large and commo- 

 dious, and afford every convenience for stock, as well as the 

 proper working and management of the respective farms. The 

 fences generally are not good, except on the Drumlanrig estate, 

 on which a regular staff of hedgers is kept, the landlord and 

 tenants bearing equal share of the expense, and the consequence 

 is that the hedges are in a complete state of repair, and add 

 much to the beauty of the district. It would be well if some 

 arrangement of this kind was more frequently made, especially 

 in Lower Annandale, where the fences are in a wretched state ; 



