AGRICULTURE IN SCOTLAND — 1791-1796. 6y 



matches had been instituted. In Symington great im- 

 provements had been made. Twenty years before there 

 was not an acre of sown grass in the parish. In 1793, 

 almost every tenant had part of his farm properly laid 

 down with a crop of rye-grass and clover. Ten years 

 before, no turnips were to be seen ; but at the date men- 

 tioned, every one who was not doing more or less in that 

 way, was considered as void of all spirit and skill. The 

 sudden change was in a great measure due to the example 

 of Major Telfer, who, on retiring from the army, ' in order 

 to amuse himself, and advance the happiness of mankind,' 

 took a lease from his brother of 100 acres of the most use- 

 less part of the estate, wholly covered with broom, and let 

 for a sheep walk, at £Z per annum. Lime was introduced, 

 and a new steading was built, and the farm would, at the 

 date of the report, let at eight times the former rent. The 

 stock in the county were generally inferior. Mr Wight, 

 however, mentions that Mr Douglas of Douglas paid great 

 attention to his horned cattle, and possessed a bull and 

 cow of the Holderness breed. He also notes that Sir 

 James Stewart of Culross ' has cows in great perfection of 

 the mixed Holderness kind.' The most notable fact, 

 perhaps, to mention in connection with Lanarkshire was 

 the attention paid to the rearing of horses. The reporter 

 for Rutherglen parish, under date 1793, says that six fairs 

 were annually held in that town, and were * famous for the 

 best draught horses in Europe.' He remarks that ' a high 

 degree of credit is due to the farmers in the upper part 

 of the county for their unremitting endeavours to improve 

 this excellent breed. They pay strict attention to every 

 circumstance regarding the colour, the softness and hard- 

 ness of the hair, the length of the body, and breast and 

 shoulders. No inducement whatever can lead them to 

 encourage the breed of a horse that is not possessed of the 

 best qualities. Every farm almost throughout the extent 

 of several parishes supports six or at least four mares, the 

 half of Avhich are annually in foal. The colts are mostly 

 sold at the fairs of Lanark and Carnwath, and bring the 

 owners from £^ to iJ^20. They are generally purchased by 



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