164 On Agricultural Improvements in Roxburgh. 



occasion required. In some cases they were bound 

 not to put any cattle, and more particularly sheep, in 

 such fields, for five years from the time of planting. 

 This was at first a considerable loss to the tenants, but 

 a great advantage in the end. 



It now remains to take notice of the means whereby 

 such a wonderful change was produced. It will be 

 readily conceived that the original expenses of such 

 improvements must be very great, before any return 

 could be expected; and besides the long established ha- 

 bits and prejudices which had to be overcome, the farm- 

 ers were generally so very poor, that it was not without 

 the most rigid economy that they could support their fa- 

 milies, and pay a comparatively small rent, so that 

 nothing could be raised from the land in its then state, 

 to meet such expense. Most of the farmers at that 

 time were totally ignorant of the nature of banks, nei- 

 ther could their credit command any money in that 

 way, and there were no banks nearer than Edinburgh, 

 which was from 30 to 50 miles distance. At first, 

 some landlords more liberal minded than their neigh- 

 bours, put their tenants in the way of getting money at 

 the Edinburgh banks, by giving their names to their 

 notes, and this induced others to follow their example. 

 About this time a branch of the bank of Scotland was 

 established at Kelso, a considerable market town, to 

 which the farmers generally resorted to sell their cattle 

 and produce. Here they formed themselves into clubs, 

 to assist each other with their names, to their respec- 

 tive bills or notes. This business was not transacted 

 in the form of discounts, as at the banks in the United 

 States, but when a note was presented, if the cashier 



