OF SCOTUANB.

289

hesitate, before he sets himself down in a situation, where heis liable to such inconveniencies. Besides, the want of cot-tages is, in many situations, an insuperable bar to increasingthe number of labourers ; and as market towns and villagesare but thinly scattered over these counties, with very fewmanufactories, little aid can be had from these ordinary sour-ces, during either the hay or corn harvest.

In the manufacturing districts of the kingdom, comprehend-ing Ayr, Renfrew, Lanark and Dunbarton, labourers are ge-nerally found in sufficient abundance for the demand. But asthe arable farms are generally of small extent, they are sel-dom accommodated with cottages for the use of day-labour-ers. For servants of this description, the farmers are thereforeobliged to have recourse to the neighbouring towns, villages,and public works, with which many parts of this districtabound, and where people in the character of labourers, arealways to be had, more especially from the West Highlands,and from Ireland .

In the Highland Districts of the kingdom, including thecounties of Argyle, Inverness , Ross, Cromarty and Suther-land, to which Caithness may be added, wherever a regularsystem of husbandry is carried on, day-labourers are in ge-neral to be found, in sufficient numbers for the demand ofthe country; but in those places where little corn is cultiva-ted, and especially along the western shores, and in the isles,where, from want of regular employment, great numbers ofthe inhabitants are obliged to leave their homes, in quest ofwork in other districts, cultivators often find the greatestscarcity of hands, when the weather is favourable, and thebusy season arrives. They are therefore obliged to rely en-tirely upon their regular hired farm-servants, which compelsthem to keep a greater number than they would do underdifferent circumstances. Where so many difficulties, arisingfrom the climate, and the natural state of the country, are tobe encountered, perhaps the best method would be, to dimi-nish the extent of land in cultivation, and to attend chiefly