PLOUGHING COMPETITIONS. I4I 



dale district, and was held at Luce Holme, near Ecclefechan, 

 on the 1st of November 1802. A number of gentlemen 

 and ladies, many influential farmers, and a crowd of 

 spectators attended on this occasion. Cornet Ram of the 

 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards brought a party of his 

 men from Annan to keep the ground. The practical 

 farmers appointed to judge the work were — Messrs Thos. 

 Richardson, Woodhouse, Gretna ; French, Girthead, near 

 Moffat ; and Pagan, Craigs, near Dumfries. Eighteen 

 ploughmen appeared as competitors. A part of the Holme, 

 which was in stubble, having been previously measured off 

 in lots of a quarter of an English acre, consisting each of 

 two ridges, the ploughmen drew for their lots, and took 

 their stations in the field accordingly. They began by 

 signal at twelve o'clock, and two hours and a-half were 

 allowed them to complete their work. One of them finished 

 with ease in one hour and twelve minutes, the greater part 

 in one hour and a-half, and all of them within two hours. 

 The ploughing was in general neatly and well done, and 

 some of the lots were executed in a very masterly style. 

 At half-past two o'clock the judges decided in favour of 

 the following ploughmen, to \\hom, at the request of the 

 Committee, the prizes were delivered by Mrs Dirom of 

 Mount Annan : — ist, to Alexander Scott, servant to Mr 

 Church, Hitchell, the Society's medal and three guineas ; 

 2nd, to Adam Robson, servant to Mr Charles Grierson, 

 Rockal, two guineas ; 3rd, to George Bell, servant to Mr 

 William Stewart of Hillside, one guinea. These three had 

 all what were called Lothian ploughs, or Small's con- 

 struction. The first was made by Robert Young, near 

 Kelso ; the second by Thomas Oliver, near Jedburgh ; and 

 the third by Small, Leith Walk, Edinburgh. The others, 

 excepting one or two, were all Cumberland ploughs. 

 The successful candidates were further distinguished by 

 having a bow of pink ribbon pinned on their hats. A 

 small gratuity was given to each of the unsuccessful candi- 

 dates. The Committee (consisting of Colonel Dirom of 

 Mount Annan and John Jeffrey of Allerbeck, conveners, 

 William Graham of Mossknow, Hugh Mair of Wiseby, 



