304 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



song. That country, once so unsettled, now enjoys the 

 most perfect security. Its thin herbage, only sufficient 

 for sheep -pasture, is now devoted to the rearing of 

 these innocent animals ; and all the strife now witnessed 

 is that of the Cheviot against the old black-faced breed, 

 which gradually retreats before its rival, as the bandits 

 and troopers of old did before the shepherds. The ave- 

 rage rent may probably be 3s. to 4s. per acre, which is 

 pretty high simply for pasture.'* These hills are subject 

 to severe storms in winter, which used to bury whole 

 flocks ; but better provision has now been made for 

 their shelter. 



Abbotsford is situated at the foot of these mountains, 

 where the more fertile and better cultivated country 

 begins. Eoxburghshire, or, as it is sometimes called, 

 Teviotdale, contains the districts where the highest 

 farming flourishes, and where it was first introduced. 

 A Roxburghshire farmer, called Daw son, has been the 

 Arthur Young of Scotland ; and, more fortunate than 

 Arthur Young, he succeeded in carrying his theoretical 

 knowledge into successful practice. The farmers around 

 him have followed his example, and the consequence is 

 that we find this part of the country covered with fine 

 crops." 



I remember stopping one day at one of these farms, 

 situated upon the left bank of the Tweed, opposite to 

 Abbotsford : the soil of it was better than the average, 

 and a great part was in pasture ; nevertheless it let for 

 16s. an acre. The farmer, with some degree of pride, 

 showed me his implements and his stock. He had a 

 water-power thrashing-machine, and next year proposed 



* This average, we incline to think, is low. Measurement is not much regarded 

 in these mountains ; but we know some extent of land on the Cheviot border, en- 

 tirely devoted to the rearing of sheep, produces from 8s. to 10s. per acre. J. D. 



