132 Meirioirs oj Jchn Coclbiirfi Ej'q. Ma/ 



Hantly obdurate, and incumbent upon a retentive bottom. The o- 

 rher third part might be charaderizcd as good, healthy land, fome of 

 It rich clay, the remainder a mixture of clay and gravel, or what is- 

 called a greafy lonm; a fmrill quantity of water-fed earth, accu- 

 mulated from the overflowings of the Tyne, lay on the banks of 

 that river. 



To cultivate fuch land, as compofed'the far greatcft part of the 

 ellate, required much knowledge and dexterity, together v/ith a 

 conHderable capital flock. At a time, when the art of agricul- 

 ture was imperfectly underftood, and the fituation of the tenant- 

 ry fo reduced, it could hardly be expelled that fubftantial im- 

 provements would be undertaken by them, unlefs their minds 

 were previoufly enlightened, and their condition ameliorated. Ta 

 the ac corn plrih men t of t^ae{e objeifts Mr Cockburn's attention wa.s 

 early direcl:ed \ and, though numberlefs obflacles encountered 

 him in his progrefs, yet a degree of fuccef^ followed, fufficient toren- 

 <:<»urage and f.icilltate improvements in many other quarters. Ormif- 

 to.n,in a little time, was flocked to by the amateurs of hufbandry ; 

 and we have not only, traditionary, but even written tellimony 

 to prove, that the firfh dawn of Scotifh improvement appeared 

 upon the eft ate of Mr Cockburn. 



A large portion erf the Ormiflon eftate lies on the fouth fide 

 of the river Tyne, and rifes gradually from the water towards 

 the hills, terminating at the ridge called Doddridge'laiu^ where 

 fome veftiges of a Roman or Danifh camp ftill remain. The 

 lands north of Tyne, and round the village of Ormifton, con- 

 ftitute the better half of the property, though they were not 

 iirfl improved. Ten tenants and their cottagers refided in the 

 village, and the whole ground north of Tyne was occupied by 

 thefe tenants in rtiTidnlcy agreeable to the mode of holding which 

 exifted in thefe barbarous days. Hence prevailed many other 

 unprofitable cuftoms, particularly that of keeping the whole 

 cattle belonging to the tenants in one common drove, tended by 

 one or two men as herds. They were taken out every morning ^ 

 regularly traverfed the fields by the fame route, picking up 

 every thing that could be got; and arrived in the evening at the 

 homeflead nearly as hungry as when they fet out, but confider- 

 ably more fatigued. What is now mentioned will throw fome 

 light upon the agriculture of the eftate, at a time when, feverai 

 of the tenants having failed, though the lands were low-rented, 

 particularly about the village, a new fyflem was adopted ; the 

 runfield plan was aboliflied, and the lands divided into proper 

 fized farms, each having a fleading built in a convenient fitua- 

 tion. The farms fouth of Tyne water amounted to four; two 

 ef which, though containing the pooreft foil, were the firft 



improved. 



