CATTLE OR SHEEP TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY. 237 



much of clear pro'of in support of any conclusion. Direct 

 evidence is scarcely to be expected in such cases, but facts and 

 circumstances ought to be considered. The writer of this had the 

 privilege, as already mentioned, of conversing with several persons 

 well qualified to give an opinion on the subject treated of in the 

 report, and he would strongly recommend to inquirers to follow 

 the same course. Travelling is now easy, by steamers and railways, 

 and access can be got to all corners of the country, including the 

 districts where sheep and cattle are chiefly reared. Perthshire has 

 had the benefit of railways for many years past, and the latest of 

 them opened, namely the Callander and Oban Eailway, passes 

 through a considerable portion of that county, and intersects 

 Argyleshire from its eastern boundary to a seaport on the west. 

 Last season (1880), hundreds and thousands of tourists and ex- 

 cursionists passed by this line, the scenery being the great 

 attraction to most of them. Agriculturists might very well 

 enjoy the scenery, and at the same time see for themselves the 

 mode of management of sheep and cattle along the line. This 

 particular railway goes through grand mountain passes, and runs 

 along the bases of mountains on which excellent sheep stocks 

 are kept and reared. 



Travellers generally consult tourists' guides, and gather such 

 other information as may be within their reach before setting out 

 on a journey ; and the intelligent farmer might do the same thing 

 for his purpose. The reports for counties published from time to 

 time by the Highland and Agricultural Society might be consulted 

 with much advantage. That for Perthshire, published in 1868, is 

 well worthy of a perusal. A very interesting chapter treating of 

 sheep will be found at x^age 165, and a little further on in the 

 report, but under the head " Light Arable Land," the great ad- 

 vantage derived from wire fences is pointed out. It will be 

 observed, however, that this is said to apply to arable land, and 

 not to sheep and cattle pasture. The improvement of such 

 pastures by means of sheep drains is dwelt upon, but not a word 

 said aljuut the means of keeping cattla and sheep separate. It 

 is scarcely necessary to say that cattle as well as sheep are 

 reared in Perthsliire in great numbers, and liave been so from 

 time ininieniorial. The annual returns by the Board of Traile 

 show this, and a short extract will be seen E-t the conmiencement 

 of this paper. The intelligent writer of the report for Perth- 

 shire must have been well aware that sheep and cattle were 

 reared on the lands described by him, but it is pretty plain tlint he 

 <li(l not conteni})lute the keei)iiig of the two classes separati-. Tlie 

 owners of stock were alive to the advantage of modern improve- 

 ment, such as fencing and sheep-draining ; and there is a stroin' 

 })resum]>tion that they did not practice or aj)prove of complete 

 separation of the ckusses. 



