232 ox THE COMPAEATIA^E ADVANTAGES OF GEAZING 



native songs ; and to this day they are heartily detested by the 

 Highland peasantry — it mnst be admitted, when the many hard- 

 ships of the " clearance system " are considered, not without just 

 cause. 



For a time the profits of the large flocks were considerably 

 diminished by the ravages of wild animals, then very numerous 

 throughout the mountains — especially the fox, which is still 

 troublesome in many places. Far from being censured for his 

 depredations at the introduction of the new system, his exploits 

 were celebrated as most praiseworthy, and Duncan Ban, the 

 most popular of all the modern Highland poets, wishes blessing 

 on his head, and success to him in his warfare against the in- 

 vaders and the disturbers of the country. 



The fox and other natural enemies were, in course of time, 

 considerably reduced in numbers and kept under restraint. ISTot 

 only the hardy blackfaced sheep, but the softer Cheviots, were 

 domesticated in the Highlands, where, as is well known, both 

 breeds thrive remarkably well. 



As already stated, sheep-farming was introduced into the 

 Highlands by south-countrymen ; but the more wealthy and 

 intelligent of the native tenantry soon entered into competi- 

 tion with them ; and, while the former had the advantage of 

 previous experience and skill, as well as of saving all the ex- 

 pense of housel^:eeping, through their being frequently absentees, 

 there is still a large extent of sheep-lands in the hands of 

 the latter class — an extent obviously enlarging year by year 

 for the last thirty years. In regard to the question proposed 

 by the Society, it is worthy of remark, that generally the 

 southerners showed a desire to clear black cattle entirely off the 

 farm, giving tlie whole range to sheep, while the Highlanders, 

 on the other hand, kept as many cattle as they could without 

 seriously diminishing the number of their sheep. But both 

 parties have been led by experience to modify their manage- 

 ment in this respect, and I do not think that the above differ- 

 ence can be said to exist at the present day. At all events, I 

 know several of both classes who carry on the mixed system 

 under consideration in this report. 



As to whether separate or common grazing by sheep and 

 cattle is more profitable to the farmer, it is obvious that the 

 question must be in several cases determined by the configura- 

 tion of the land. On the higher mountains, generally rocky and 

 precipitous, it is obvious that no heavy animal can move with 

 safety. Such must be left to sheep alone. We put the moun- 

 tains, properly so called, out of the question then in the dis- 

 cussion before ns, confining our remarks to undulating hills not 

 exceeding 1000 feet in height, leaving all above this to sheex^- 

 exclusively. 



