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there, as they have almoft univerfally to the north of the Frith of Forth, of housing the sheep at night. They fell their wedders at, from fix to eight fhillings, and the ewes and lambs from four to fix fhillings a head. It would take a long time for a perfon to afcertain exactly what number of fheep is kept on that part of the coaft, as there are between two and three hundred fmall tenants who keep from ten to twenty, and fome about thirty fheep each, and only two or three who keep above five score. What wool is fold there they fell at twelve fhillings a ftone. It takes from eighteen to twenty fleeces to the ftone.

The fheep in Caithnefs are in general of the fame fort with thofe in Sutherland, and managed in the fame manner. There has been no trial made in that county to improve the breed of sheep, except at Thurfo Castle, where there are fome sheep brought from England by Sir John Sinclair. Thefe are of the Herefordfhire breed? and have thriven well, and produce good wool. d Door

The whole of that part of the country feems well calculated for fhee p having plenty of heath, mofs, and ling, with a mixture of fine grafs; but notwithstanding these advantages, it has in general a great want of hay. Sheep, however, are hardly ever known to want hay in that neighbourhood, as the fnow feldom lies long on the ground.

From Inverness to Aviemore the ground is very high, and almost entirely covered with heath. The sheep are very fmall, of the fame kind with thefe I have fo often mentioned.

Strathfpey, on the whole, and particularly Sir James Grant's eftates, feen to be well adapted for fheep farming.

From Aviemore to Piimain the fheep and ground are much the fame as between Inverness and Aviemore.There is a place near Pitmain, called Glen Fishey, where there were once very fine wooled deep, but they are now quite adulterated, owing to the croffing with the black faced kind.A few years ago, a gentleman from London applied to Mr M Lean, of I saw almost the whole of the coun- Cluny, near Pitmain, to fee if he could ty of Caithness, and I think there are procure him a few of the old breed, very few places in it fit for keeping but none could be found fheep, the ground being either in til- The Wedders in general fell for lage or likely places belides Sanfide, are the7s. to gs. the markets are chiefly Glafhills of Yarrows, and the eftates of gow and Perth. The fmall kind of Langwell and Lathton-wheel. The theep fell from 75. to gs. and the ewes two former are the property of Sir from 4s to 6s. a head. The white John Sinclair of Ubfter, the latter, wool unwashed fells for 10s. aftone, of Mr Dunbar of Hemprigs. and the laid for 5s, say

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likely ally very wet The molt from 13s. to 16s. and the ewes from

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From Bighoufe I went to the west point of Sutherland, as far as Cape wrath, where the fand feems to be to lerably well calculated for theep, but there are very few kept at prefent, and what they have are either of the fall kind or a mixture of thefe with the black faced ones.bocolaɔ sited amou

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The whole of the ground from Pitmain to a few miles below Blair in Athol is much of the fame quality, and the theep and wool likewife, exe & cepting a large flock belonging to the Duke of A hol, which are improveď "by aerofs, fome years ago, with a Culley tup.

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principally of the black faced fort.
The wool went moftly to Yorkshire
year. I was informed by a perfon
from the neighbourhood of Hawick,
wh has a farm between Dalwhinnie
and Dalnacardoch, (which is capable
of keeping between three and four
thousand sheep), that the whole of
that country will feed more ftock than
a ftranger would imagine by looking
at it; and it was afferted by people
who have lived in that country for
thirty or forty years, that they never
remember any confiderable quantity
of fnow lying above fix or eight weeks-
at the utmost, and that they would
magine their sheep were in danger of
being loft, if they were obliged to give
them hay.

out any change, except what has procede from constant attention to good croffes among themfelves, by chufing the beft rams, and the best breeding ewes with regard both to carcafe and fineness of wool.

But it would be needlefs for any perfon to lay out money either in buying or in breeding sheep of a good kind, from thefe parts, without having fhepherds to take the charge of them, as the peole in the north are in general extremely ignorant in this import-" ant branch of huban try.`

I have now given a faithful account of every thing relative to the fheep of the north which occurred to me, and feemed worthy of notice, in the courle of a journey of about 8yo miles, which I took parpolely to make enquiries on From all that I have feen in the the fubject. It has been my earneft North, and from my long knowledge wfh to forward the patriotic views of both of the quality of the fil and pa- the Society as much as lay in my powfture, the climate, and the nature of er; and I fhall feel myfelt much gratis the fheep in the hills of Tiviutdale and fied, if my humble endeavours fhall Northumberland, I am convinced that merit any thare of its honourable apin the Highlands where the p can be probation. At the fame time, I must kept at all, there is no part where the beg that my inexperience in writing true bred white-faced fheep would not may be confidered as an apology for anfwer as well as either the fmail bo- the many errors in this report; and died or the coarfe wooled kinds. The I thall be happy to have it in my powdifference of profit between thefe forts er to fatisfy a y far her inquiries that is greatly in favour of the fouth coun- may be thought neceffary. Fae fhort try. white-faced sheep. Their wool time allotted for my journey, through is worth 2cs. a-ftone when white,- a vaft tract of bad roads and at an unwhich, on an average, requires only favourable feafon of the year, has likenine fleeces; and when falved fells wife, obliged me to be lefs minute in from 15s. 6d. to 10s. which requires my inquiries than I could have withfeyen and a half fleeces to the ftone of ed. But, during the whole time spent twenty-four English pounds while on this expedition, I have never for a fome of the other kinds take from * moment loft fight of the objects of in-, twenty to twenty-four fleeces to the quiry which were pointed out to me, tone, which only fells for 15. The nor neglected any opportunity that occarcafe alfo of the white faced fheepcurred of procuring information. is greatly fuperior in weight, particu. larly in the fore quarter, which is a great object to the butcher. This va luable breed, fo far as I know, or ever could learn, is only to be found on the range of hills which divid Scot-an, wh re fheep farming ought to land from England; and have been kept there from time immemorial with

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The retult of the whole furvey is, that no time should be loft in chang ings as tapidly and completely as poffible, nor only in the northern Highlands, but alto in every part in Scot

provai, he black-faced, and brookedfaced breeds of fheep, for the *real

white faced Tiviot fale, or South bor

der breed.

pirts of the Coquet and Reid Wa

ters in Northumberland.

The white faced sheep are equally As no doubt can be entertained of hardy with the black faced. I do not the propriety of extending the best make this affert on merely as matter of breeds of theep through the different opinion for about three years ago, a parts of Scotland, which are capable fair trial was made between thefe two of fupporting that very ufeful, and kinds of sheep on the Lammermoor even neceffary animal; it may perhaps hills, at Byre Cleugh, 7 miles east of be expected that I fhould point out Norton; and, notwithstanding that fuch methods as are, in my opinion, the black faced sheep were bred upon beit calculated for that defirable purthe farm, and the white faced theep pofe. There are, no doubt, many were brought from a great distance, gentlemen in the Society better able and had to be perpetually herded to to draw up fchemes for this end than keep them on the ground, (which is I am, efpecially with the facts which a great injury to fheep by disturbing I have furnished relative to the breed, them, and preventing them from feed pasture, and climate of the diftri& ing) they proved better than the black - through which I have gone in my fur faced ones in the courfe of a year. Ivey; but the following hints may be Laft year I fold fome of the fame of fome fervice in the formation of kind of white faced sheer, which were fuch a plani only wintered on the Lammermoor hibs, when bogs, for 11s. a-head.

This important circumftance of the equal hardiness of the white faced breed being afcertained, there cannot remain a doubt of their fuperiority in all other refpects. Their forequarters are confiderably heavier, in proportion to the rest of the carcafe, than thofe of the black or brooked faced fheep; and indeed the whole carcafe is heavier, so that the stock, which can be fold of annually, is fure to bring a larger price. Their wool, too, is greatly finer, and will Kill át a much higher price per ftone Befides, each fleece of the white faced kind is a good deal heavier, and confequently it keeps the animal warmer than either of the d ther kinds. I am convinced alfe, from all that I know or can learn on the fubject, that the white faced sheep nei, ther require a better pasture, not more of it.

Thefe true bred white faced theep are only to be got on the borders of Scotland and England, namely, in the parishes of Hounam, Oxnam, Morbattle, and Jedburgh in the county of Roxburgh, and in the upper VOL. XIV. No. 81.

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There are two ways by which this end may poffibly be accomplished 1. By furnishing the breeders of theep in the north with proper rams, at the expence of the Society, and under the infpection of proper perfons appointed at the neceffary ftations for that purpofe; or 2. By encouraging the breeders to furnifh themselves with rams of the belt kind, to be pointed out by the Society, giving premiums according to cit. cumftances. I fhall take notice of both of thefe modes, and point out fo far as I am able, the advantages and difadvantages at ending both.

In the first place, the Society might purchase rams of the kind thoughtmoft proper for improving the breed? of theep in the north; and let them out to hire to different breeders in certain diftri&t, under the inspection of proper people chofen in the feveral diftricts for that purpofe, and under fuch regulations as might be thought conducive to the ends of the fociety. By this plan, it would be requifite know pretty nearly the number of ewes before hand in each di rict, that a competent number of rams, for the intended number of ewet; might

be previously provided. As this neceffry preliminary is almoft impoffible to be afcertained, the confequence would be, that, in fome difFrics, a greater number of rams would be provided by the Society than was neceflary, and a confequent heavy and unneceflary charge incurred, without any equivalent advantage. In other diftricts, on the contrary, the number of rams might greatly fall fhort of what was wanted for the purposes of the furrounding farms; by this means many would be difappointed, and their zeal for improvement, checked

diftricts, through which I have gone... in my late northern furvey.

1. About the Lomond hills; for tho' at prefent the farmers there do not breed any fheep, yet they might be induced to turn their attention that way, if the advantages to be derived from this practice were properly pointed out to them.

2. In the north part of Fife, from which, I have formerly faid, the farmers about the Lomonds are chiefly fupplied with young sheep for grazing

on their farms.

3. About the Tent moors, or parifh

in its rife, might not cafily be reco- of Leuchars on the caft coaft of Fire.

vered.

- Another inconvenience which would Bavoidably attend this plan is, that the perfons to whom the rams in the diftrict were entrusted would naturally prefer their own ewes, if they have any, to thofe of their neighbours; and would be apt to fhew favour, as friendship or intereft might prompt them. This too would occafion difappointments, jealoufies, and even oppofition to the views of the Society. in those who found the ewes of others preferred to their own.

Another ftrong objection to this plan is, that it will be attended with a certain, though a fmall expence, to thole farmers who employed the Society's rams with, ir their opinion, ar the heft, only a very uncertain prof. pect of advantage; and is contrary to all the prejudices they enterain refpect-. ing the kinds of fheep teft adapted for their own hills.

The perfons alfo, who might be in trafted by the Society with the care of thefe rams, would expect to be paid for their keeping, and for the trouble, which they might have in fuperintending the execution of the plan.

On thefe grounds, therefore, I fhould be inclined to prefer endeavour ing to roufe the fpirit of improvement by premiums. If, however, the So. ciety fhould think otherwife, I fhould beg leave to mention the following ftations as the most centrical and beft calculated for placing tups, in thofe

4. In Glen-Efk, in the county of Forfar.

5. On the banks of the Dee, between Abergeldie and Aberdeen. 6. Between Strichen and Banff. 7. In fome of the districts of Bang, Elgin and Nairn.

8. In Cromartyfhire.gitz 9. In the diftricts of Rofs fhire, near Tain.

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10. In the caft coaft of Sutherland. 11. In the fouthern parts of Caithnefs. W I

fo.

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12. In the neighbourhood of Thur

13. At Tongue, in Sutherland..
14. About Cape-Wrath.
15. Near Lochnaver.

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16. About Inverness
» 17. Near Aviemore, hryze or
18. Near Dalwhinnie.
19. In Athol, to soitals
20. Among the Ochil hills.

Thefe are fomes of the principal places where fuch a plin would require that proper brood rams fhould be fationed, thought there are doubtlefs a great number of other places in the fame track of country, which my limited time did not permit me to vifit; and a vaft variety of others in all the other districts of Scotland, where the fame would be equally neceflary.

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The other plan of promoting the improvement of the breed by giving. premiums to the farmers for procuring, employing, and hiring our proper rams, would, in my opinion, be

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Should this way of proceeding be adopted by the Society, I would beg leave to fuggeft, that, in certain dif tricts, chofen as much feattered as poffible, and as numerous as the funds will admit of, annual premiums be offered to the farmer, in each of thefe diftricts, who fhall provide himff with the greatest number of rams of the proper kind and age; and a leffer premium to the farmer who has the next greatest number. Each competitor to produce certificates from the perfono from whom he p purchafed hisnams, of their age, when bought; of the number of ewes on his farm pooff the rams being still in their poffeffion, &c.

Were fuch premiums to be continued for a confiderable number of years fucceffively, there can hardly be a doubt, that they would quickly fpread the improved breed all over the country.

Another fet of premiums might be offered, after three or four years, to the farmets, in each of thefe diftrias, who fhail produce the greatet number of brood ewes of the coffed breed, and of the best quality as to wool and carcale.

Thefe, are much needed in the north, as, excepting the precarious fale to the butchers in the fmall towns, there is no market of any confequence for theep so the north of the Tay, except at Tinity moor, in the county of Angus, and two annual fairs in the county of Kincardine. Befides, the butchers are not the best purchasers for breeders, as, in general, on ground fited for breeding fheep, it is impoffible to make them fat enough for the butcher. The bufinefs of fattening belongs to an intermediate farmer on more cultivated land; who, by means of fawn grafs or turnips, or both, has it in his power to fatten theep quickly, and confequently, to produce a quick return for his outlay. Farmers, in general, are rather needy, from the preffure of their regular payments for rent. There are very few inftances in Scotland of a farmer confining his views fuch a quantity of land as he is fully able to flock, and having a fufficiency to wait for eventual proft at a diftance of time. Every meas therefore which brings a ready fale, and a quick return for their goods, must be of the molt effential fervice to his intereft..

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In the countries, through which I have traveled, during my farvey, perhaps the following places are beit adapted for fairs to ferve the intercit of facep breeding, beginning with the north, viz. Tongue, Thurlo, Wick, Langwell, Dornoch, Tain, Dingwall, Beauly, Inverness, Aviemore, Dalwhinnie, Blair in Athol, Dunkeld, Perth, Kinrofs. Falkland, Leuchars, Forfar, Brechine, Abergeldie, Inverurie, Keith, Elgin, Forres, and Newton in Murray. At thefe places, To promote the improvement of or fone of them according to circumthe breed of fheep, and render it more fances, there ought to be fairs for and more the intereft of the farmer to attend to the increase of his flock, it would likewife be extremely, receffary to inftitute fairs for wool and fheep in various parts of the country, and at different times of the year.

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fheep, and wool, established at the different feafons, of the year, when thefe commodities are ufually brought to market from the breeding country, The wool in the end of July; for lambs in the beginning of the fame

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