Chap. XYII. Appendix.

409

daily if aided by the exertions of the landlord. The former,by taking care never to overstock his farm; and the latter, by in-troducing new, or improving the old stock of cattle, might, bytheir united exertions, accomplish this great end.

On this subject, many judicious bints are suggested in the re-printed Report of the Hebrides . The following are quoted ashighly deserving of the attention, both of the tenants, and land-ed proprietors, of these islands.

“ 1. Both landlord and tenants should consult competentjudges, in order to fix on the sorts, numbers, and proportions oflive stock which they ought to allot to their farms. The perni-cious, but too common practice of overstocking the land, oughtto be carefully avoided; and every encouragement for improvingthe breed and management of his stock, should be afforded tothe tenant.

“ 2. The size of cattle and horses ought not to be forced allat once beyond the abilities of the smaller tenants, and the powersof the pasture to maintain them. Proprietors, and gentlemenfarmers, ought to commence the introduction of enlarged andimproved breeds. They should gradually rear flocks of Cheviotand Spanish sheep on their pastures, before they recommend themto their tenants and dependants.

“ fl. The farmer should discriminate between the pastures ad-apted to different sorts of live stock, at the various seasons ofthe year; and act accordingly. It is preposterous to keep cows,horses, and sheep, on the same pastures, in every sort of wea-ther, all the year round. Yet this is often done in many of theWestern Isles.

“ 4. Attention ought to be paid to the difference between pas-tures fit for breeding, and those adapted to fattening of cattle.Each of these should be carefully applied to its appropriate use,and not pastured promiscuously.

“ 5. The best breeds of black cattle which the Highlands andHebrides produce, should be carefully reared and propagated,without mixture and adulteration, by any foreign breeds.

“ 6. In rearing calves, hay tea should be generally used; andcare should be taken not to stint the young cattle of provender ;but, on the contrary, as much green food and hay ought to beprovided as possible, while they are young, and in a growingstate.

“ 7. The Gearran, or true Highland and Hebridian breed ofhorses, should be retained. But every effort should be made toimprove that breed. With this view, stallions of the greatestsize, and most beautiful form, and mares of the finest figure,ought to be selected for this purpose. By this means, the nativehorses of the Hebrides might be reared and improved to such apitch, that they might be fit for the plough, the cart, or thesaddle; and, by being thus improved, one third of the numbermight be sufficient for all these purposes.