BUTE AND ARRAX. 23 



Pigs. 



In the table at the commencement of this paper we have given 

 the relative numbers of pigs in Bute in 1855 and in 1879, and 

 it only remains further to be added here, that these animals are 

 only kept to the extent of one or two on each farm, for the 

 purpose of consuming the waste about the kitchen, and that pork- 

 feeding forms no part of the rural economy of the island. 



Horses. 



During the last quarter of a century there has been little 

 change in the quality of the horses bred in Bute. For some time 

 prior to the period reported on, and during it, the farmers have 

 been fortunate in securing some of the best Clydesdale stallions 

 ever known in Scotland to travel their island. The Sproulston 

 horse "Farmer" (Stud-book, 290) was the first to effect a 

 marked improvement in the quality of the stock, and after him 

 " Eound Eobin" (721), " General Williams " (326), and " Young 

 Clyde" (1360), greatly increased the value of the young horses 

 reared in the island. In more recent years " Surprise " (845), 

 " Young Lome " (997), and others, have been secured by the 

 Farmers' Society to travel under their auspices. " Druid " (1120), 

 the well-known champion horse of 1879 and 1880, also was 

 engaged by the Bute farmers, when a three-year-old, in 1878. 

 The best horses are undoubtedly to be found on the west side, 

 on the deep land of Ettrick Bay, but the east side has also come 

 to the front through the reputation of the famous mare " Bose of 

 Bute" (89). Horse-dealers visit the island regularly, and buy 

 up any of the stock which may not be required for home pur- 

 poses. Generally tlie mares are not of the largest size, and there 

 is an apparent lack of the finely flowing fringe of hair on the legs, 

 so much accounted of by Clydesdale fanciers. Clydesdale mares 

 were introduced into Ikite by !Mr James Simpson about forty 

 years ago, but whether these were the first pure bred importations 

 we have not been able to ascertain. It must be between thirty 

 and forty years since " Farmer " (290) travelled the island, and 

 "liound Boljin" (721) was there in 1854 and 1855. About 

 tliLs latter date Mr Btobert M'AUister, Mid Ascog, held a lead- 

 ing place in the local show with his mares, and bought in one 

 from the stud of Mr Bobert Findlay, Springliill, Baillicston, 

 which bred many excellent animals. At the time when Mr 

 Sinq>son came from Ayrshire, and " Farmer " (290) was travel- 

 ling, the native bn^ed must have been somewhat inferior, and in 

 all probal)ility of Iligliland origin, because the very fir^ year Mr 

 Simpson was in Jiute he gained the prize as the owner of the best 

 pair of mares at the ploughing match. It is questionable if very 



