OF SCOTLAND.

35

ceil), by providing spring food for the cattle, will be the meansof increasing the value of these islands in a very high degree.In Bute move especially, in Islay , and in Coll, wheat and turnips have been cultivated successfully. Iu Skye and some othe smaller islands, turnips have likewise been raised. In allthese isles, the breed of black cattle is excellent, though mgeneral small. The fisheries and kelp manufacture are veryvaluable •, and by proper attention to them, these islands mayfurnish a great addition, both to the wealth and the strength othe empire. The only island that gives name to a county isBute, to which Arran and a few islets are annexed.

In regard to the general state of these islands, it may be ob-served, 1. That where an improved system of agriculture hasbeen attempted, it has uniformly succeeded ; 2. That an in-crease of the size and value of the live-stock has been produ-ced by better feeding, as is evinced by the management ofMr Campbell of Shaw held, and of Mr Macneil of Colonsay ;

3. That the fishery should be the chief object of those island-ers, where the soil is peculiarly barren, and the manufactureof kelp where the shore abounds with sea-weed; and, 4, Thatif more attention were directed to draining, inclosing, andplanting, and effectual precautions adopted against the blow-ing sands; if more ground were improved by trenching incases where it could not otherwise be cultivated; and it •leases were granted on a proper plan; this remote districtwould soon be rendered, infinitely more valuable, to the pro-prietors, the inhabitants, and the public.

District IX .—The Northern Islands.

The Ninth or last District consists of the northern is ‘of Orkney, and Zetland or Shetland. The former coabout 440, and the latter nearly 880 square miles, anone county, the extent of which is about one twen y »•and the population, nearly one thirty-ninth pait o coOnly about one-seventeenth part of the whole sur ace oislands is in cultivation. Wheat and turnips ave