AGRICULTURE IX SCOTLAND — 1791-1796. 6^ 



of Kyle ;" but whether it was owing to difference of pas- 

 ture, of hard feeding, or both, these were soon found to 

 milk no better than the native breed, and being less 

 esteemed in other respects, especially on account of their 

 being horned, very few of them are now to be seen.' In 

 Old Luce, the farmers placed dependence on black cattle, 

 the great object being to secure good pasture. Only about 

 one-half of the parish was arable. It had been much im- 

 proved by the introduction of lime, and of sea-shells from 

 the Bay of Wigton. In New Luce, the farmers looked to- 

 ward their black cattle and sheep for the payment of the 

 rent and their own profits. In the parish of Inch, great 

 improvements had been made through the influence of the 

 late Earl of Stair. A farm which, preceding 1790, was let 

 for £7 2s. 6d., now (1792), rented at £i9S ; another which, 

 previous to same date, was rented at ^48 4s. 8d., now let 

 at ^245. The reporter notes — ' The Galloway breed of 

 black cattle are universally known and admired in both 

 kingdoms. They are finely shaped, and have no horns.' 

 It was calculated that there were 2500 head of black cattle 

 in the parish, and about 5000 sheep, mostly of the Scotch 

 breed. The parish of Kirkmaiden (situated in the extreme 

 south of the county, in the district known as the Rh}-nds of 

 Gallov.'ay), abounded in corn and cattle. The farmers 

 laid their account by paying one-half b}- the sale of cattle, 

 and the other half by corn. In Stranraer (in the same 

 district), quantities of lime had been introduced, and 

 weighty crops of barley, oats, r^-egrass, and clover were 

 raised, where not many years before weak grey oats could 

 scarcely be seen. 



Colonel Fullarton, in his Report on Agriculture of the 

 County of Ayr (dated Fullarton, Nov. 1793), mentions 

 that Hugh, 1 2th Earl of Eglintoun, had, forty years before, 

 brought from East Lothian ' an eminent farmer, to intro- 

 duce the proper mode of ploughing, levelling ridges, fallow- 

 ing, drilling, turnip husbandr}-, and rotation of crop.' The 

 impetus given by the example set by his lordship had 

 a most beneficial effect throughout the countr}- generally. 



