ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 31 



cattle. There are a great many cattle fed, but I am of opinion 

 that it would be more profitalile to the farmer to breed a larger 

 and feed a small number of cattle." That it would be advisalile 

 to lessen the number of cattle fed we are scarcely prepared to 

 say; but it seems perfectly clear that it would be profitable to 

 breed more, and at any rate graze a great many more than at 

 present, and that not only of cattle but also sheep. When cattle 

 can be reared to realise from L.28 to L.30 a-head when twenty-four 

 months old, it is not very easy to understand how cattle-breeding 

 would not be a profitable undertaking to the Fifeshire farmers. 

 The figures stated are not by any means l^eyond the general run of 

 prices for good two-year olds; and when an animal can produce 

 L.28 for twenty-four months' keep, it must be admitted that that 

 animal affords a very handsome return for the outlay upon it. 

 Of course the expense of maintaining its mother must be deducted, 

 but even then the return is a large one. We take it for granted 

 that the value of the cow's milk, beyond the nursing of her own 

 calf, would meet the interest of the money lying on her, and per- 

 haps part, if not all, of the loss by " tear and wear." We do not 

 deny that by buying in cattle instead of rearing them himself a 

 farmer can make more money by the transaction "pure and 

 simple," at least so long as he can purchase good stirks in the 

 months of August and September at from L.16 to L.18 a-head 

 and sell them off in March or April at from L.26 to L.28. But 

 the various advantages arising to a farm by the keeping of a herd 

 of cows are worthy of consideration, and taking everything into 

 account, we are decidedly of opinion that it would be highly 

 remunerative for the Fifeshire farmers to breed at least one-half 

 of their stock themselves. Undoubtedly close and careful atten- 

 tion require to be paid to a breeding stock, but they are worthy 

 this trouble. We do not think that it is at all desirable that a 

 farmer should be entirely dependent upon the autumn or indeed 

 any markets for a " fill" to his feeding-stalls; and at the present 

 day Fifeshire may be said to be entirely dependent on the outer 

 world for the stock it requires during winter — a very large stock 

 it is. It seems somewhat strange that the " Kingdom of Fife," 

 so independent and self-supporting in so many respects, should 

 be entirely at the mercies of the outside world for cattle and sheep 

 to consume its turnips and straw. Yet "true it is; and pity 

 'tis, 'tis true." A very large majority of the cattle introduced are 

 Irish, and hence the county is continually kept in a state of 

 disease, often from both pleuro-pneumonia and " foot and mouth." 

 During the past few years several farmers who kept no cows 

 before, except what were required for milk, have commenced to 

 rear a number of calves, while we hear of a good many more who 

 are contemplating the same course ; and we feel pretty certain that 

 before another quarter of a century is past the breeding stocks of 



