Chap. XVII. Appendix.

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Hebrides, is also a dead weight on every farmer. This is the na-tural consequence of employing too many horses. Dr Walkerobserves, “ That tnore titan double the number of horses andtnen servants are employed in the north of Scotland , on a farmof the same description and extent, than in the south. In theformer, a tenant who pays only 5l. Sterling of yearly rent maybe found with six labouring horses. On a farm of 20 1. may befound twelve Or fourteen men and women servants. In short,there are few farms in the North Highlands but might be mana-ged, and equally well cultivated, with one-third of the numberof servants. In some cases, one lntlf of horses and men mightserve the purpose. ” This, however, is partly Occasioned by theClimate. The long continued frosts* or storm, gives them but ashort time to plough. It is the climate here that occasions this.

It is unnecessary to add, that such a number of horses and ser-vants, utterly idle the greatest part of the year* must be a greatobstacle to all improvement.

The number of cattle of every kind which are kept on thesefarms, is equally adverse to every improvement, either of thestock or soil. The proportion between the rent and stock ofsuch farms, is a sufficient proof that they are overstocked. DrWalker mentions a case in point. . “ A farm in Kintail was foundto have on it 40 milch cows, which, with their young stock, froma calf to a four-year old, made about 120 head of cattle; besides80 ewes and 40 goats, which, with their young, were about 250,and 10 horses. Yet this farm, though it contained arable landmore than sufficient to supply all the family, besides this stockywas rented only at twenty pounds a year. ”

VI. Distance front Manures , arid neglect of stick as they have at

hand, is another great Obstacle to the Improvement of the High-lands and Hebrides .

Of all manures, lime is one of the most efficacious and lasting.And wherever it abounds, and is properly used, improvement inthe quality of the soil may be seen. Indeed, without this spe-cies of manure, the richest counties of Scotland must have re-mained in a comparatively unproductive state.

. Yet this invaluable manure is almost inaccessible to the inha-bitants of the Highlands and Western Isles ; at least, the ex-pense of the article, and of carriage to such a distance, eitherby sea or land, is so great, that few landlords, and still fewer te-nants, can afford to give their lands a sufficient liming.

. It rs true* and it is fortunate for these districts, that limestoneabounds in many parishes. But, want of coal to burn it, is agreat obstacle to the improvement of land, by the use of thismanure. Happily, in some parishes, peat has been used as a fuel

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