In a county so extensive and elevated, the propor tion of heath and moss is inconsiderable, and these are gradually yielding, where circumstances admit, to the efforts of agricultural skill and capital. In Liddisdale, indeed, there is much mossy ground; and a large track of stubborn clay stretches from the south-west skirt of Ruberslaw to the confines of that district. But even in these districts dry and sound soil greatly predomi nates. In the arable land, the soil is of various quality and composition, consisting sometimes of rich loam, sometimes of sand and loam mixed, and sometimes of sand, gravel, and clay in various proportions. The loam and rich soil is generally found on low and level lands near the beds of rivers and rivulets. The heavy clayey soil chiefly occupies the higher grounds; the largest part of it is immediately south of Eildon hills, including the parishes of Minto, Lillieslief, Bowden, Melrose, and a part of Ancrum, Maxton, and Roxburgh. The extent of the district of clay is supposed to be about 10,000 acres, of which about one-eighth part may have been planted. About one-half of the remaining part of this heavy soil bears luxuriant crops of wheat and other produce. In the parishes north of Tweed, near Kelso, heavy soil is rather most prevalent, and is in general of good quality. Another portion of it runs along the higher grounds south of Tweed, near Kelso.
At the first Roman invasion of this part of the king dom, it appears to have been in a state of uncultivated nature, covered with impervious woods and dreary wastes; and the civilized invaders did little. for the im provement of the soil, except around their encamp ments. The Saxons, in a later age, partially cut down the woods, and cultivated the land; but it was not till the reign of David I. that something like a plan of sys tematic cultivation was adopted. During the reign of Malcolm the land was partially enclosed and im proved; and the most skilful husbandmen of those times in this county were the monks, especially those of Kelso, who possessed extensive property. The civil wars by which Scotland was long distracted, as well as the frequent wars between Scotland and England, re tarded agricultural and every other species of improve ment; and the Borders, which were the focus of hos tile contention, were peculiarly liable to devastation. We must therefore date the substantial improvement of agriculture from the union of the crowns, when pro perty became more secure. But it was not till after the revolution of 1686, and especially till after the union, that property acquired real stability. Since that time the change has been wonderful indeed, and this county, which has taken a lead in agricultural im provements, may now be ranked among the best cul tivated parts of the kingdom; and the valued rent of it is believed to be greater in proportion to its extent than that of any other in Scotland. It amounts to £314,663,
6s. 4d. Scotch. The principal proprietors are the Dukes of Roxburgh and Buccleugh, the Marquises of Lothian and Tweeddale, Lord Minto, and the families of Scot, Ker, Douglas, Pringle, Rutherford, &c. The number of freeholders at present on the roll is 139, a great majority of whom possess real property in the county.
Leases of arable lands are in general of nineteen or twenty-one years duration. Pasture farms, admitting comparatively little improvement, are still sometimes let for a shorter period. In the leases of arable lands, provision is in general made for preventing them from being impoverished by injudicious or severe cropping, especially toward the close. The common restrictions are that a certain portion of the farm shall be left in grass or in fallow; that the straw and manure produ ced during the currency of the lease, shall be consum ed on the ground; and that two white crops shall not be raised without the intervention of a green crop or fallow. The enclosure of lands occasions special stipu lations in leases. The fences are sometimes kept up at the mutual expense of landlord and tenant, sometimes formed by the landlord, who is entitled to receive a cer tain rate of interest for his outlay, and they are then kept in repair by the tenant. Practices somewhat similar ap ply to the lime laid on the land, of which the quantity amounts to about eight single horse cart-loads, or 160 bushels per English acre. The time of entrance to farms is generally at Whitsunday, and to such parts as are in crop at the separation of the corn from the ground. The rents are generally made payable at Mar tinmas and Whitsunday, but are rarely exacted till near Candlemas or Lammas following. Leases for one or more lives, though they sometimes occurred former ly, are now very rare. The size of arable farms may vary from 50 to 1500 acres, and may average from 300 to 400 acres. Several farms bring from .1500 to £2000 per annum; one gentleman, indeed, occupies land to the extent of above £5000 per annum. Farm houses and offices, which are now generally made very commodious, are usually put in good repair by the proprietor at the commencement of the lease, and kept up by the tenant.
An improved system of draining, enclosing, and cropping, is said to have been introduced by Dr. John Rutherford about eighty years ago. At a late period, viz. about 1750, Mr. William Dawson commenced farming in the county of Roxburgh, was among the first to introduce turnip and drill husbandry from Nor folk, and exhibited a most useful and successful exam ple in all the branches of agriculture. Still more re cently, the present four-break system of husbandry be came general in this county.