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S. Sutherlandshire.
1. Cattle —-The native breed of the higher parts of the coun-ty is small; but feed well, when brought to the pastures of theLow country. The best stocks are of the West Highland breed ;and crosses between bulls from Argyleshire and Skye, and thenative cows, have improved the cattle of different parts of thecounty. At Dunrobin, various breeds have been tried ; but thenative stock of the county, improved by judicious crossing, seemsto answer best.
2. Sheep. —The ancient breed was almost exterminated by dis-ease in 1807. A few years ago, the Black-faced were introdu-ced, and, more lately, large flocks of the Cheviot variety wereestablished in this county, by farmers from Roxburghshire andNorthumberland . Owing to the superior value of their wool,these seem now to be preferred to the Black-faced.
3. Horses. —Except upon the coast-side farms, the horses aresmall. The native breed of garrons are used for the plough,
four abreast; and in some cases, three abreast, with a driver_
Four of these garrons are generally kept to plough from 8 to 10acres of arable land ; and where lots are smaller, two tenants'join in the ploughing, each providing two garrons.
4. Caithness-shire.
1. Cattle _-Until within the last 20 or 80 years, the Caithness
breed of cattle were considered inferior, in proportion to theirsize, to the cattle of almost any other county of Scotland , beingof a thin lank make, and slow feeders, when brought to the pas-tures of the South. Since that time! considerable improvementhas been made by means of the West Highland breed, bulls ofwhich have been introduced by several proprietors. The greatdistance from the Southern markets, has occasioned less attentionto be paid to breeding in this county, than in most others.
2. Sheep. —Until about 20 or 24 years ago, the only breedwas the native White or Dun-faced. In 1792, Sir John Sinclair brought 500 ewes from the Cheviot Hills, which had increased to3000 in 1800. They are not found too delicate for the climate,und the example of the Patriotic Baronet has since been follow-ed by others. The Black-faced breed had been settled on ano-ther gentleman’s estate ; but was afterwards supplanted by theCheviots, when Sir John Sinclair ’s flock was found to succeedso well.
3. Horses _A middle-sized description of horses have been in-
troduced and reared on a few farms, but the general stock of thecounty consists of the small Highland garron.
Little attention is paid to swine: There are rabbits on theSandy links; but the rent paid for their pasture is but trifling-
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