PLOUGHING COMPETITIONS. I43 



quantity. The first ploughman with horses finished his 

 quantity of half-an-acre in three hours and three quarters, 

 and all those who got prizes finished in three hours and 

 fifty-five minutes. At three quarters past four, the judges 

 decided in favour of the following ploughmen, to whom Mr 

 Gordon, convener, delivered the prizes : 



For ploughs witli two horses — Robert Dinwoodie, servant to Hugh 

 Stewart of Gategill, the silver medal and two guineas ; John Brown, servant 

 to Mr Brown, Longbarns of Tongland, two guineas ; James Adamson, servant 

 to Mr Mitchell, Culvennan, one guinea ; Peter Melville, servant to Mr Smith, 

 Kirkchrist, half-a-guinea ; William Cairns, servant to John Spalding of 

 Holme, M.P., half-a-guinea; William M'Call, servant to Sir Alexander 

 Gordon of Culvennan, a crown ; Gordon Buchanan, servant to Mr Gleddorie, 

 Wheatcroft of Greenlaw, a crown, subscribed by the judges. 



For ploughs with two oxen — James Hamilton, servant to Robert Gordon 

 of Threave Grange, the silver medal and one guinea ; Robert Geddes, servant 

 to James Gordon, yr. of Culvennan, one guinea. 



Each unsuccessful candidate received two shillings. 



The ploughing was in general well executed ; and the 

 judges expressed much satisfaction at the appearance and 

 style of work of the oxen, and particularly of the heifers, 

 which were so well trained, that they equalled any pair of 

 horses in the field, in tractable disposition, steadiness of 

 draught, and quickness of step. The ist, 2nd, and 9th 

 had English or Cumberland ploughs ; the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 

 8th had Small's ploughs ; the 6th had Wilkie of Udding- 

 ston's plough ; the 7th was a plough made by Robert 

 Murray, blacksmith at Greenlaw, on a new plan, but more 

 adapted for one horse than for two. The ploughs were 

 tried by a machine invented by Mr Gladstone, Castle 

 Douglas, for ascertaining the power necessary for drawing 

 a plough. The Committee, the judges, and above thirty 

 gentlemen and influential farmers dined together after- 

 wards in the Town Hall of Castle Douglas, where the 

 King's health, the first farmer of the Empire — the Highland 

 Society of Scotland — the plough, with the health of the 

 gentlernan who had brought to the field the best plough — 

 and success to the agriculture and improvement of the 

 Stewartry, with other appropriate toasts, were drunk with 

 much pleasure. 



