COUNTIES OF EDINBURGH AND LINLITHGOW. 35 



a-piece over inlaid price. We have said that Ayrshires and short- 

 horns sometimes lose a little, so that the dairyman is now drift- 

 ing into the stocking which requires less capital, and is more 

 sure of maintaining or exceeding its original value. Some of the 

 foreign stock make very nice beef, and are readily picked up 

 by butchers if their age is not too great 



Dairying. — Of the 19,004 cattle returned by the farmers of 

 Edinburgh, 9614 come under the head of cows and heifers in 

 milk. Besides these, there are about 1800 to 2000 milch cattle 

 in the town and suburbs of Edinburoh, making* a total of between 

 11,000 and 12,000 coming under the dairy interest. In Lin- 

 lithgow, 3541 of the 11,543 may be classed as dairy stock, 

 making a total for the two counties of about 15,000 head. In 

 Mid-Lothian dairying has increased much in recent years. In 

 the city of Edinburgh it has fallen off slightly, but has been 

 fully compensated for by the extra number of stock kept, spe- 

 cially in the country, to su^Dply the requirements of the town. 

 Previous to the rinderpest year, the number of dairy cattle in 

 Edinburgh was stated at 2100 or 2200; but the grievous plague 

 claimed many as its victims, and the original quantity was never 

 again fully made up. The Cattle Sheds Act, too, reduced the 

 numbers to some extent. This insured a regular inspection of 

 the byres, and a report as to whether they were properly con- 

 structed, had good sanitary regulations, and were well kept in 

 general. Many were condemned, and the country thus came in 

 for a larger share of the town's business. Had the town's cattle 

 increased with the requirements of the population in place 

 of falling off, they would now have, doubtless, numbered close 

 upon 4000. Most of the produce of these cattle is sold as sweet 

 milk. There are also dairies in the suburbs constructed on much 

 the same principle as those in the city. In summer the 

 cows are fed upon grass obtained from the irrigation meadows, 

 together with brewers' grains, bran, and meal ; in winter, they have 

 hay, cut turnips, grains, beanmeal, and straw. Both feeding and 

 milking take place three times a-day, except when the cows are 

 being put dry. Besides the foreign cattle already mentioned, the 

 breed consists of Ayrshires and crosses. It is computed that 

 about one-half of the milk retpiired in Edinburgh is obtained 

 from the city dairies ; the remainder is driven from the country, 

 or, in some instances, where far distant, sent by rail. Amongst 

 those whu keep shorthorn crosses for dairying purposes, may be 

 menti(jned Mr Stenhouse, South Gyle, Corstorphine, who bus 

 about GO cows ; Mr Thomas Myliie, Niddrie Plains, who hus 50 

 cows; Mr James Hope, Duddingston, whose byres contain over 

 70 dairy cattle; and Mrs Mure, Mid-Kinleith, who has 40, 

 more or less. The 50 cows at the large dairy of ^loruingside, 

 Egypt, owned by Mr Bcgbie, also belong, with a few exceptions, 



