398
Better accommodation, therefore, for horses, milch-cows, andthe young cattle, is absolutely requisite in the Highlands andHebrides . The want of this is a great obstacle to the improve-ment of these districts.
IV. The Want or Scarcity of Winter Foodfor their Cattle.
In the cultivated districts of Scotland , where there is a greatproportion of arable land, it is easy to supply tbe whole stock ofcattle kept during winter. In the Highlands and Hebrides , it isotherwise. From the abundance of grass, ten times as manycattle may be reared and fed in summer, as can be kept alive inwinter ; and, for the most part, many more are retained duringthat season than can be tolerably fed. The consequences of thisare frequently fatal to the stock, and ruinous to the farmer.When a severe winter, and heavy fall of snow ensues, one third,and sometimes one half of the whole stock perish for want offood. Even those which survive th6 storm, are so enfeebled,that they do not recover in time to be ready for the market; or,if offered to sale, they must be sold at reduced prices.
V. Overstocking their Farms, is another Obstacle to the Improve-ment of the Highlands and Hebrides .
Where abundance of food can be raised from any farm, it may,and ought to be consumed by cattle; But where little provision,except pasture, can be procured in winter, every farm of thisdescription should be lightly stocked.
Yet it appears, from the Agricultural Reports of the High-lands and Hebrides , that the pernicious practice of overstockingalmost every farm, with every species of live stock, generally pre-vails.
The number of horses kept for labour, is uniformly one thirdmore than is requisite for that purpose. This is, indeed, partlyowing to the diminutive size of the animals used, and partly totheir want of docility, or not being properly trained. A num-ber of these stubborn animals is frequently yoked in one plough.
Dr Walker, in his posthumous work, remarks, that “ the num-ber of horses upon every Highland farm, is by far too great.They are so numerous, because they are inefficient. They areinefficient, because they have neither stature, nor a supply offood, to render them useful. In many places, they are reared forthe market, and sent in droves to the South. In this case, it maybe proper and profitable to keep a considerable number. But, ingeneral, 6, 8, or 10, are kept on the smaller farms, for the pur-poses of agriculture alone. ”
The number of idle men servants, kept in the Highlands and1