[

and riſing grounds with which this county is encircled, nu-

20: 1

merous drains are greatly wanted. Some little draining has been donez but a great deal more remains, before theſe lands can be properly improved; and there are few things that more urgently demand the attention of ſome poſſellors of land in theſe parts of the county. Sheep paſture grounds on the bills require many open drains to keep them dry. As they are chießly defigned to carry off ſurface water, they ſhould be narrow and ſhallow, that the lambs may be in no danger of ſuffering. by travelling over them. Were the wet ſpongy parts of theſe ſheep paſtures properly drained in this way, they would thereby be rendered greatly more valuable than at preſent 3; not only by the richer. quality of the grafſes, but the greater ſecurity for the health of the ſheep.

Implements of Agriculture.--Vheſe, in this county, have no- thing remarkable about them, ſo as to claim much attention from the public. The old Scotch plough was formerly much uſed, and was drawn by the joint effort of oxen and horſes; ſometimes by two horſes and four oxen, and at other times by two of each. Within theſe eight years this cumbrous imple- ment has been much laid aſide, and the common ſwing ploughs, with Mr. Small's mouldboards of caſt-iron, are now generally ufed, and are drawn by two horſes without a driver. The community is much indebted to the late Mr. Small, that deſervedly celebrated mechanic, for his improvements on ſo neceſlary an implement; for, although he was not the firfr in Scotland who made improvements on the plough, yet un- doubtedly he brought it to a high degree of perfection. One of the firſt valuable alterations in ploughs on the old con« ftrudtion, was made long before Small's time, by Lady Stew- art of Goodtrees, grandmother tothe Right Honourable the Earl of Buchan! She lived for ſome time in-the vicinity of the burgh of Rütherglen, and, amongſt öther agricultural im= provements;