64 Transactions. 



given up at an early period, except for travelling. In ray own 

 early days several old men in Dumfries still kept to the pigtail, 

 knee-bi'eeches, and powder. Upon the conclusion of the Rebellion 

 of 1745 there was a rage for wearing tartan, the Jacobite ladies 

 taking that method of expressing their attachment to the 

 Pretender. In the early part of the present century the Waver- 

 ley novels revived the fashion. The millinery business was hardly 

 known in Scotland in the beginning of last century, but it was 

 introduced by degrees from London. A very mean style of 

 building, says Ramsay, both in public and private buildings, 

 prevailed in Scotland between the Restoration and the Union. 

 But after the latter event, when Scotland revived apace, the 

 country gentlemen began to build better houses. Even well on 

 in the century the Lords of Session and principal lawyers in 

 Edinburgh were very meanly housed. Lord President Dalrymple, 

 with 20,000 merks annual income, lived in an eight-pound house. 

 With the better houses came a better style of finishing inside. 

 Ceilings and walls were lathed and plastered, but there was very 

 little painting or papering, and carpets were little used. 



In the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century 

 the farmers sat at easy rents, and the system of husbandry was 

 of the most primitive kind ; on the borders of the Highlands the 

 land was sometimes held in run-rig, the several tenants having 

 ridge about of every field. In general no manure was applied, 

 the land being allowed to rest a shorter or a longer period 

 between the crops. The grain was very poor in quality. Black 

 and grey oats was the chief crop, and bere. " Forty years ago," 

 says Ramsay, " there was no wheat raised in this country, except 

 a little of a red-bearded kind in the dry fields of Airthrey. It 

 was hardy, required little manure, and produced very white 

 flour." The farm-horses were small and weakly, and the carri- 

 ■ ages were sledges and small carts. The buildings were constructed 

 of feal or divots, which in a few years had the appearance of a 

 wall of clay. Stable doors were made of wattles, and there were 

 seldom any locks on barn-doors. The most rigid economy was 

 exercised by the tenants both in dress and domestic expenses. 

 They ate at the same table with their servants. Oatmeal por- 

 ridge was esteemed a luxury, bere meal being generally used. 

 Water kail was a standing dish, being made, without flesh, of 

 greens and groats. For kitchen they had butter, cheese, eggs, 



