ON THE AUmCULTUKE OF TH-E COUNTY OF FIFK. 55 



a superior class of carriage and hunting horses. A few of the 

 latter are of the very first order. 



Sioine. 



The breeding and feeding of pigs receive much more attention 



now than formerly, but still they have scarcely the place they 



deserve on the farm. The number of pigs in Fifeshire was, in 



1856, . . . 8734 | 1869, . . . 5931 

 1875, 6050. 



Though the number kept in the county has not increased 

 during the past twenty years, the system of feeding and general 

 treatment of the pigs has improved immensely. They are now 

 well housed and carefully fed, while a good deal of pains are 

 bestowed on breeding. The ancient breed of swine was very 

 inferior, but of late a great improvement has been effected, 

 chiefly l)y the introduction of Berkshire boars, and crossing these 

 with the native sows. A few pure Berkshire are reared in the 

 county, Mr Leslie Melville Cartwright having a very superior 

 little lot at his home farm of Melville. For upwards of twenty 

 years Mr Cartwright has bred the improved Middlesex pigs on 

 his Northamptonshire estate, and for several years in succession 

 carried the leading honours at the principal English fat stock 

 shows. A few of this famous breed have been brought to 

 Melville, but the present stock consists almost wholly of 

 Berkshires. 



The science of poultry farming is not much studied in the 

 county. On every farm, however, a few of the feathered tribe 

 are kept, while in some cases they are reared extensively. A 

 few excellent collie dogs are to be found in the county. 



Labour. 

 In no matter whatever connected with agriculture does Fife- 

 shire show its sister counties a better example than with regard 

 to the treatment it bestows on the labouring classes — an example 

 which we make bold to say it would be well for the British 

 farmers were every county in the kingdom to copy. The labour 

 question is undoubtedly one of the very first importance, and is 

 justly engaging the attention of our ablest and most experienced 

 politicians. The formidable character assumed by the unfor- 

 tunate misunderstandino' that arose in England little more than 

 a year ago, between a number of farmers and their employees, 

 ought to serve as a warning of the danger that is involved in an 

 unequitable adjustment of the relations between agricultural 

 labourers and their masters. The superior attractions which 

 are held out to working people by our friends across the 

 Atlantic have, during the past few years, been draining away 

 the very bone and sinew of the Scotch farm labourers, leaving 



