OF SCOTLAND.

223

CONCLUSION.

Besides the four kinds of live-stock which have been treat-ed of in this chapter, there are several others of an inferiordescription, such as Rabbits , Poultiy, &c. which have beencommonly described under the general head of agriculturallive-stock. But in Scotland , the number of these is eitherinconsiderable, and confined to a few districts, as is particu-larly the case with Rabbits and Goats ; or their produce, as thatof Bees and Poultry, is so insignificant to any one individual,that in a single chapter of a great work, which does not admitof minute details, it has been thought proper to omit them. Inthe Appendix , however, when describing the live-stock ofeach county, some account shall be given of these inferiorspecies, wherever they have engaged the attention of thehusbandman, and contributed in any considerable degree tohis emolument.

The Appendix will also contain some particulars concern-ing the introduction of the Merino sheep into Scotland , andof their management and produce, furnished by gentlemenwho write from their own experience. Some account of anextensive dairy, lately established at Glasgow , has been trans-mitted by the proprietor, for which the reader is also refer-red to that part of the work.

In such times as these, when the population of Britain isunderstood to exceed the means of subsistence obtained fromher own soil, and when the consumption of animal food has ma-terially increased among the great body of the people, it is ofno less importance, to produce two pounds of meat, than twobushels of grain, from land which lias hitherto produced on-ly one. The natural produce, indeed, of a great part ofScotland , can be but little augmented by human industry ;•but the animals employed to convert it into the food of man,