CATTLE AXD SHEEP TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY. 227 



unequalled grasses and succulent roots are the cause of the 

 superiority of British mutton over that of other countries. 



It is a noteworthy circumstance that the North American 

 continent, wliich is so richly abundant in many natural pro- 

 ducts, is on the whole a very unfavourable region for sheep, and 

 for the growth of wool and mutton. For both of these they 

 must chiefly depend upon foreigners. This is owing to the 

 climate of North America, which is in general very dry, and also 

 liable to extremes of heat and cold, which are ruinous to those 

 fine and crisp grasses on which sheep delight to feed. 



The writer of tlie present report has had the opportunity for 

 many years of observing the working of farms with mixed stock 

 in the Highlands of Scotland. He has read with care any 

 remarks that he has seen written on the subject, and what gives 

 him some degree of confidence in his undertaking is, that he has 

 been at some pains in collecting the opinions of practical farmers 

 well qualified to judge in such matters. The report is to be 

 directed chiefly to moorland and rough ground not suited for 

 cultivation. That kind of ground will be found in abundance 

 in the counties after mentioned, to which the attention is to be 

 specially directed. Within these bounds will be found hill and 

 dale, moors and marshes, and rough ground of all kinds. The 

 counties referred to are the following, and it will not be out of 

 place to state the kind of stock kept on each of them, viz. : — 



Argyll, . 



Inverness, 



Perth, 



Ross, ... 



Sutherland, 



Before going into any minute examination of these lands, it 

 may be proper to offer a few general remarks. It is right to 

 remember that sheep-grazing, properly so called, does not date 

 further back than a century throughout the Highlands generally, 

 in various places not so far. Up to that time the number kept 

 by each farmer was very small. They were never allowed to 

 roam at will over the lulls, but were carefully herded and 

 penned every night, while, from the beginning of June on 

 towards the middle of September, they were milked morning 

 and evening to helj) the family dietary. Along with these a 

 considerable number of goals was generally kept, which in every 

 respect received simihir treatment, being penned and milked as 

 well as the sheep. There is no possibility now of ascertaining 

 with any degree of accuracy the numbers, actual or proportional, 

 of sheep and goats kept on the farm, l)ut from tradition still 

 very fret:;h and from pastoral songs still numerous, the latter 



