principally of the black faced fort.-out any change, except what has pre The wool went moftly to Yorkshire laft year. I was informed by a perfon from the neighbourhood of Hawick, who has a farm between Dalwhinnie and Dalnacardoch, (which is capable of keeping between three and four thoufand theep), that the whole of that country will feed more flock than a ftranger would imagine looking at it; and it was afferted by people who have lived in that country for thirry or forty years, that they never remember any confiderable quantity of fnow lying above fix or eight weeks at the utmoft, and that they would i magine their fheep were in danger of being loft, if they were obliged to give them hay. From all that I have fren in the North, and from my long knowledge both of the quality of the foil and pafture, the climate, and the nature of the theep in the hills of Tivictdale and Northumberland, I am convinced that in the Highlands where the p can be kept at all, there is no part where the true bred white-faced fheep would not anfwer as well as either the fmall bodied or the coarfe wooled kinds. The difference of profit between thefe forts is greatly in favour of the fouth country white-faced fheep. Their wool is worth 20s. a-ftone when white, which, on an average, requires only nine fleeces; and when falved fells from 155. 6d. to 168. which requires feven and a half fleeces to the ftone of twenty-four Eng ifh pounds; while Some of the other kinds take from twenty to twenty-four fleece's to the Rone, which only fells for 15. The carcafe alfo of the white-faced fheep greatly fuperior in weight, particu larly in the fore quarter, which is a great object to the butcher. This va Juable breed, fo far as I know, or ever could learn, is only to be found on the range of hills which divide ScotJand from England; and have been kept there from time immemorial with ceded from conftant attention to good croffes among themfelves, by chuting the beft rams, and the best breeding ewes with regard both to carcase and fineness of wool. But it would be needlefs for any perfon to lay out money either in buy ing or in breeding theep of a good kind, from thefe parts, without having thepherds to take the charge of them, as the people in the north are in gener al extremely ignorant in this import ant branch of husbandry. 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 courfe of a journey of about 8yo miles, which I took purpofely to make enquiries on the fubject. It has been my earnest with to forward the patriotic views of the Society as much as lay in my powe er; and I fhall feel myfelt much gratifred, if my humble endeavours fhall merit any thare of its honourable ap probation. At the fame time, I must beg that my inexperience in writing may be confidered as an apology for the many errors in this report; and I fhall be happy to have it in my power to fatisfy any farther inquiries that may be thought neceffary. The short time allotted for my journey, through a vast tract of bad roads, and at an unfavourable feafon of the year, has likewife obliged me to be lefs minute va my inquiries than I could have withed. But, during the whole time (pent on this expedition, I have never for a moment loft fight of the objects of inquiry which were pointed out to me, nor neglected any opportunity that oc curred of procuring information. The refult of the whole furvey is, that no time fhould be loft in chànging, as rapidly and completely as poffible, not only in the northern Highlands, but alfo in every part in Scot ian, where fheep farming ought to prevai, he black-faced, and brookedfaced breeds of theep, for the reaf white State of Sheep Farming on the East Co ft. white fared Tiviotdale, or South bur der breed.. The white faced sheep are equally hardy with the black faced. I do not inake this affert on merely as matter of quitions for about three years ago, a fair trial was made between these two kinds of beep on the Lammermoor hills, at Byre Cleugh, 7 miles caft of Norton; and, notwithstanding that the black faced sheep were br‹d upon the farm, and the white faced thep were brought from a great ditance, aal had to be perpetually herded to keep them on the ground, (which is a great injury to sheep by disturbing. them, and preventing them from feading) they proved better than the black, faced ones in the course of a year. Laft-year I fold fome of the fame kiod of white faced sheep, which were only wintered on the Lammermoot hil's, when hogs, for eis. a-hal. . parts of the Coquet and Reid Wa. ters in Northumberland. As no doubt can be entertained of the propiety of extending the bett breeds of theep through the different, parts of Scotland, which are capable of fupporting that very useful, and even neceflary animal; it may perhaps be expected that I thould point out. fuch methods as are, in my opiniɔo! beit calculated for that deûrable parpofe. There are, no doubt, miny gen lemen in the Society better able to draw up schemes for this end than I am, especially with the facts which I have fornished relative to the breed. pattu e, and climate of the diftria through which I have gone in my fu vey; but the following hin's may be of fome fervice in the formation of fuch a plan. There are two ways by which th's end may poffibly be accomplished☀. t. By furnilling 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 ne eflary &itions forth a purpose; or 2. By encouraging the breeders to fur nich themselves with rams of the but kind, to be pointed out by the Socie1 ty, giving premiums according to cisdimlances. I fail take notice of both of these moles, and point ou', f› far as I'am able, the advantage i and disadvantages attend og both. This important circumftance of the equal hardiness of the white faced, breed being aftertained, there cannot remain a doubt of their faperiority in add other refpics. Their forequarters are confiderably heavier, in proportion to the rest of the carcafe, thân chose of the black or brooked faced sheep; and indeed the whole carcafe is heavier, fo that the Auck, which can be fold of annually, is fure to bang, a larger pace. Ther. wool, too, is greatly buer, and wid Libat a much higher price per tone. Befides, each Ble.ce In the first place, the Suci ty mis' E of the wh te ficed kind is a good deal parchofe rams of the kind thou,nt beavier, and coefequently it & eos them proper for improving the bret. źnimal warmer than either of the o of theep in the north; and let chrí ther kinds. I am convinced alfo, trom out to hire to different breeders inf all that I know or can learn on the certain dilirias un ler the infetti fubject, tha the white faced theep nei- of proper people chofen in the fevecał ther require a better pattu.e, nor more dift-ids for that purpose, und und e fuch regulations as might be thought conducive to the en is of the focietys By this plan, it would be requifite •3 know pretty nearly the umber of ewes before hul in each de trick that a comocteråt nurther of cams, for the intended number of ewes, nuight of it. Thefe true bred white faced sheep are only to be pot on the borders of Scodland and England, namely, in the parishes of Houdan. Cxam, Murbastle, and Jedburgh in the coun of Roxburgh,, and a the upper be be previously provided. As this neceffary preliminary is almoft impoffible to be afcertained, the confequence would be, that, in fome diffries, a greater number of rams would be provided by the Society than was neceffary, and a confequent heavy and unneceffary charge incurred, without any equivalent advantage. In other districts, 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, in its rife, might not cafily be reco vert d. Another inconvenience which would unavoidably attend this plan is, that the perfons to whom the rams in the district were entrusted would natural. ly 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 thofe who found the ewes of others preferred to their own.. Another ftrong, objection to this plan is, that it will be attended with certain, though a finall expence, to thofe farmers who employed the Soeety's rams with, in their opinion, at the bell, only a very uncertain profe pect of advantage; and is contrary to all the prejudices they entertain rpecting the kinds of fheep Leit adapted for their own hills. The perfons allo, who might be in trufted by the Society with the care of thefe rams, would exped to be paid for their keeping, and for the trouble which they might have in fuperintend ing the execution of the plan.. On thefe grou: ds, therefore,, I fhould be inclined to prefer endeavour ing to roufe the spirit of improvement by premiums. If, however, the Society fhould think otherwife, I fhould beg leave to mention the following tations as the moft centrical and beft lated for placing tups, in thofe districts, 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 farmis. 3. About the Tent moors, or parish of Leuchars on the caft coast of Fire 4. In Glen-Ek, 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 Banff, Elgin and Naita. 8. In Cromarty fhire, 9. In the districts of Ross shire, near Tain. 10. In the east coast of Sutherland. 11. In the fouthern parts of Caithnefs. fo.. 12. In the neighbourhood of Thur 13. At Tongue, in Sutherland 20. Among the Ochil kills. Thefe are fome of the principal places where fuch, a plin would require that proper brood rams fhould be fltioned, though there are doubt. lefs 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 neceffary. The other plan of promoting the improvement of the breed by giving premiums to the farmers for procuring, employing, and hiring out proper rams, would, in my opinion, be very very eligible. In this way the expence to the Society might be more nearly afcertained, and impofitions of various kinds more readily guarded against by proper regulations. The certain gain, which would occur to the farmer from the premiums, would be a much more effectual excitement to improvement, than the eventual and contingent profit, held forth to them in the former way; and thus their old prejudices might be remove ed by the force of felf intereft. Should this way of proceeding be adopted by the Society, I would beg leave to fuggeft, that, in certain dif tricts, chofen as much scattered as poffible, and as numerous as the funds will admit of, annual premiums be offered to the farmer, in each of thefe districts, who shall provide himflf 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 perfon from whom he purchafed his rams, of their age, when bought of the number of ewes on his farm; of the rams being ftill in their poffeffion, &c. Were foch 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 coun ary. Another fet of premiums might be offered, after three or four years, to the farmers, in each of these districts, who thall produce the greatet num. ber of brood ewes of the craffed breed, and of the best quality as to wool and carcafe. To promote the improvement of the breed of sheep, and render it more and more the intereft of the farmer to attend to the increase of his stock, it would likewife be extremely necef. fary to inftitute fairs for wool and fheep in various parts of the country, and at different times of the year. 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 to the north of the Tay, except at Trinity moor, in the county of Angus, and two annual fairs in the county of Kincardine. Belides, the butchers are not the best purchafers for breeders, as, in general, on ground fitted for breeding theep, it is impoffile to make them fat enough for the butcher. The bufinefs of fattening belongs to an intermediare farmer oa more cultivated land; who, by means of fown grafs or turnips, or both, has it in his power to fatten the ep 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 to fuch a quantity of land as he is fully able to stock, and having a fufficiency to wait for eventual profit. at a distance of time. Every means therefore which brings a ready fale. and a quick return for their goods, must be of the most effential fervice to his intereft. In the countries, through which I have traveled, during my furvey, perhaps the following places at best adapted for fairs to feive the interest of fheep breeding, beginning with the north, viz. Tongue, Thurto, 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, or fome of them according to circamtances; there ought to be fairs for fleep, and wool, established at the different feafons of the year, wheg 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 month; and, for aged fheep, in the end of August or beginning of September. And they fhould be fo contrived as to fucced each other regularly, fo that either buyer or seker bəginning at the North may try his market on his way home to the South. Gentlemen ought to be fettled with, who will undert ke to give the market ground free from duty on freep or wool, and fatisfy themfelves with fuch dues as may be had from other commodities. It would not be amifs likewife to establish in the fame places, an annual market for utter and cheele; for, as these are produced in fheep farms, every means ought to be employed to facilitate the fle of the articles produced by a new fpecies of farming, or at kaft one which at pre fent languishes, and deferves to be burifhed by every poffel means. It would likewife be of no fmall moment to the breeders of fheep, that means were fallen on to extirpate the race of foxes, eagles, and carrion crows or corbies, all of which are exceedingly hurtful to a breeding ftrck, and abound very much in many parts of the Highlands. The wife policy of our ancestors has most happily fuc. excited in totally deftroying the race of wolves in our land; and there is cently very little difficulty in the temp to extirpare the fox, eagle, ind rochie, for which fimilar means might be taken. I cannot conclude without expreffing ny fincere with, that the Society for the improvement of British wool, pay meet with every poflible feccels in e proficution of the farriotic (b. its of its infiuntion; which. indeed, vie enlarged views of its members, to-gether with the great advantages. both jubke and private, which pui necef. fry flow from their cxertions, can carcely fail to obtain. To this report is fubigined an appencix, meant (inefectually we tuirk) to prove? ift, That a peculiar breed of theer, poffeffing qualities of the most valuable fort, actually fubfifts in the Shetland ifles at prefent. 2d, That that breed is of a hardy nature, and easily reared, and never would have been in danger of being loft, even from neglect alone, had not artificial means been employed to debafe it. 3d, That the inhabitants are at this day active in trying to debase it, by f leding for rams only the very work of the breed they have; and altho in confequence of the hardinefs of the · original breed they have not been able to effect an entire extirpation of it, they have already fucceeded in greatly debafing it, and reducing the number.--The natives are so ford of the fine wool, that they are very loath to lofe any of it; and, as they find that rams are apt to fry from the flock during the rutting cafon, so as to be often entirely loft, they take care to cut every ram lamb that carries a fire fleece; for, as wedders never wander, they are fore of thus keeping the fleece In this manner, they debale the quality of their wool in general, for the fake of preferv.rg a particular fleece; and realife the fable of the goose with the golden eggs.This fa&t the writer of this abflract had from the left authority. 4th, That, therefore, nothing more fecins to be wanting to recover the fine breed, but to felect the best ev es and the beft rams that femain,' ard keep them apart, for breeding from.” “ 5h, That, before any proper or extenfire ule can be made of this wool in marufadures, which altre can make it a profitable article to the earer, the practice of thearing de fheep must be introduced among them. 6th, That a premium be given to the perfen who shall prefent a certain number of fhorn feces at a certin time, neatly done up, as is ufual in wool countries. 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