542 
The Cumberland and f Vestmoreland 
" Lyne," a considerable stream flowing from the moorland 
districts in the north-east of the county, unites its waters with 
those of these rivers just before they reach the Solway. 
Hedged in by the angle at which these rivers join one another, 
and protected to some extent from their treacherous embraces 
by dykes or banks, lies the farm I am about to describe, occupied 
by Mr. Robert Graham, and designated " Burnfoot-on-Esk." 
It is situated about 2 miles south of Longtown and 7 or 
8 miles north of Carlisle. It is in the parish of Arthuret, in 
the quiet churchyard of which village rest, together with the 
remains of many more of his family, the ashes of the great 
statesman Sir James Graham. 
The Caledonian Railway runs very near to it on the west, the 
North British almost touching its skirts on the east ; but its 
exact locality will be better indicated to many of my older 
readers by informing them that within about 2 miles to the 
north-west lies a village of renown, called Gretna. When I 
have further said that it is part of the famous Netherby estate, 
I have finished my introduction. 
The farm was held from 1835 to 1875 as part of the large 
holding of Mr. Thomas Gibbons, whose name and person are 
familiar to all the agriculturists of the North. During his 
occupation it was entirely laid out afresh, and under him it 
became remarkable for its crops of roots and corn, and for the 
goodness of its stock. On Mr. Gibbons' retirement in 1875, 
Mr. R. Graham (his nephew) became the tenant, having taken 
a lease of seven years, which has now but two years to run. 
Size and Cliaractcr. — The farm consists of about 456 acres, of 
which 355 are arable, 90 permanent pasture, and 10 water and 
gravel (the foreshores of the rivers which skirt it, as well as half 
their streams). It is, as I have said, perfectly flat, and the soil 
is entirely jvlluvial, of great depth and fine quality. It is a loam 
with enough but not too much adhesiveness in its charactei\ 
Cropping. — The course of cropping is as follows : — 
1. Roots (chiefly swedes). 
2. Wheat or barley. 
3. Seeds for mowing. 
4. Seeds for grazing. 
5. Oats. 
The average acreage of each crop is therefore about 70 acres, 
except of seeds, of which it is 140 acres. 
Roots. — Beginning with the roots : the oat stubbles generally 
get two ploughings, about 7 inches deep, with a pair of horses, 
the first in winter and the second early in spring, and as many 
grubbings as required to free them from couch grass (which is 
