t ^23 ] 



tjwgs of young fir-trees 5 but as we are at the fame 

 time told that for want of other food, they arc forpe- 

 times forced to fubfift: upon dried fifh- bones beat 

 fmall, this had the appearance of being the confc- 

 qucnce of extreme neccflTity alone. It has beei» 

 found, however, on fome trials that have been made 

 in the North of Scotland, that the tender twigs of 

 the Scotch fir afford a wholcfome food for cattle, 

 that may be occafionally employed for that pur- 

 pofe without danger, in cafe of a fcargity of other 

 provender. 



The firfl: notice I had of this particular was in a 

 letter from the bailifFof a gentleman of confiderablc 



eminence in fhire, dated the 25th of Odober, 



1782, which runs thus; " I was fo pinched laft 

 *^ fpring for provender to cattle, that I had not a 

 ** ftone of ftraw, or a ilone of hay, from the middle 

 *^ of March; nothing but whins and oats for horfes, 

 ** and fir-tops (that is, tender Ihoots of firs) for 

 ^* tattle 5 and 1 had 430 horned cattle, and about 

 ♦* 1 20 horfes fmall and great, of which I loft but 

 *' few (four or five, I cannot tell which) cattle, but 

 ** there were numbers of cattle that died in this 

 '* country for want. Some tenants loft the one- 

 ^^ half of their cattle, and fome almoft t;lie whole." 



