1 246.-19

the field ſome time longer. If it ſhould happen that the cat- tle are not ſold, which indeed is ſeldom the caſe, they are afterwards driven ſouthward, at the riſk of their owners. It is believed that the additional value derived to the paſtures, within one mile of the place where the market 15 held, may amount to at leaſt one fourth of the rent. A ſmall tax is Paid, to the owner of the moor on which the cattle ſtand du- ring the fair. The quality of the ſoil, though naturally poor, is evidently improving by the tread and dung of the cattle; and although the preſent ground has not been ſo oc- cupied above ten years, one now ſees fine graſs rifing plenti- fully, where nothing but heath and barcenneſs formerly pre- vailed.--At theſe fairs are likewiſe ſold a conſiderable num- ber of ſheep, with which a. part of the Highlands is now tocked. The ſale both of cattle and ſheep has, of late years, been on the increaſe.

Milch Cows.=-In the upland parts of the county are ſeve- ral dairy farms. The breed hitherto moſtly encouraged is a ſmall, ill-looking cow, very hardy, and that commonly yields in ſummer from 3* to 7 Engliſh gallons of milk per day.- The Ayrſhire breed of milch cows, 15, for the dairy, now preferred by many farmers, and is Spreading very faſt through the country. Few of the. calves are reared, being moltly ſold to the butcher. The milk 15 manufa&ured into butter and cheeſe. Much improvement is wanted in the making of cheeſe. The curd is not ſufliciently prepared; too little ſalt is mixed with it; and proper preſſes are not in general uſe. Cheeſe of the beſt quality made here, 1s ſold to the dealers at from 244. to 3 d. per pound Englilh; the cheeſe 1s weighed and delivered in the months of O(to- ber or November. A poorer kind 1s ſold for 2 d. and 15 weighed and delivered at the ſame time with the other. Butter in great quantities is alſo made in the dairy, during the ſummer and beginning of autumn. It 15 generally ſold freſh to Glaſgow, Stirling, and Falkirk markers, and to the - neighbouring manufa&uring villages. The price is commonly

from 8 d. to 15. per pound of 22 ounces Engliſh. In autumn the