3 r 2 Acctunt of the Northumherland Breed of Sheep, A Mg, 



and acrofs the Frith of Forth into Perthihire, &c. &c. Trials arc 

 alfo making of them in Cumberland, and on the Solway Frith; 

 and it is not doubted, but that they will hnd their way gradually 

 into the remoter parts of Scotland, wherever the ground will 

 fuit them. 



Thus have I endeavoured to give the bed account which I 

 have been able to collecl:, of the progreflive improvements in 

 the breed of Northumberland fheep \ and if you think the at- 

 tempt worthy of a place in your Magazine, it is much at your 

 fcrvice. I remain your conftant reader, 



A Northumberland Farmer. 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Improvement of Holm Latid in Cumberland, 



Sir, 



A great improvement being lately made on a tra£t: of fine 

 holm land in our neighbourhoodj by cutting a new water-ccurfe, 

 and raifing a (Irong bulwark, to turn the river out of the old 

 channel, an account of it cannot be unacceptable to your numer- 

 ous readers; and, though not an undertaking of fuch magnitude 

 as the drainage of Loch Leuchars, which you have given an 

 account of i^ your November Number, yet is as much within 

 the fphere ot .h-" pra£lical farmer; efpecially as many fine traiSts 

 of holm land are often of little value, for want of fuch improve- 

 ment. 



The holm alluded to, is in the north-eaft diftri£l of Cumber- 

 land, a few miles from the fource of the river Line, (a river 

 that difcharges itfelf into the Solway Frith near Longtown); 

 and, owing to the rapidity of the river, and the torrents from 

 the mountains, it was rendered almoft ufelefs ; the river hav- 

 ing formed ilfclf a ferpentine courfe, (as in Fig. i. of the fketch 

 annexed), tearing its loamy banks, and inundating nearly 8 or 

 lo acres of fine land every flood. About fix years fince, Mr 

 Nixon, the proprietor, fet about its improvement, which he 

 completely effecSled, by cutting^ a ftraight courfe down the north 

 fide of the holm, thereby fhortening its courfe from 8oo to 500 

 yards. But the greateft difficulty was, the making a bank to turn 

 the river into the new cut, as it was neceiTary to make it acrofs a 

 rapid dream, where the river was about 25 yards broad, with 

 a loofe graveWy bottom. Mr Nixon preferred a bank of ftones, 

 backed with gravel. He got large ftones from a quarry at a (hort 

 diftance, and begun the bank, by laying the foundation ftones 

 about a foot and a half funk in the gravel, which was carried up 

 (rather floping it a little) to the height of 7 feet, not like a 



double 



