184 ON THE AGPJCULTUKE OF THE 



these efforts, the crofters themselves are now manifesting 

 considerable care in the selection of sires. On the smaller of 

 these crofts, where only one cow can be kept, the calf is usually 

 sold off when two or three weeks old or when fostered ; and 

 on the larger crofts the young animals are generally kept till 

 they are stirks, and sold in winter or spring according to the 

 supply of food. No feeding takes place on crofts, but the cows 

 are much more liberally treated with food than some fifteen or 

 twenty years ago. Overstocking has disappeared to a very large 

 extent, but in many cases the cows are still kept to too great an 

 age. It would be greatly for their own benefit if crofters would 

 change their cows much oftener than they do. Though the 

 majority of the crofters rear from Highland bulls, a large number 

 are now availing themselves of the Shorthorn bulls imported by 

 the larger farmers ; and from Highland cows and Shorthorn bulls 

 they are rearing much better cattle than have ever before been 

 seen on their small holdings. Only a very small breadth of tur- 

 nips is grown among the crofters, and in an open winter the cows 

 and stirks are turned out on the hills and pasture grounds every 

 day. Where breeding is pursued on the farms a very fair class 

 of cows are kept, mostly crosses from Shorthorn bulls and either 

 West Highland, Polled, or Ayrshire cows. Crosses between West 

 Highland and Shorthorn bulls generally turn out well, but we 

 have a decided favour for a cross from a Polled cow. Animals of 

 this latter stamp are growing more and more in favour every day, 

 as might be inferred from the demand that is presently display- 

 ing itself for females of the polled breed. Among farmers gener- 

 ally shorthorn bulls are now used almost exclusively, and have 

 been so by a few for more than thirty years. Long prices are 

 frequently paid for sires of this fashionable breed, and there can 

 be no doubt that the money expended in this way is wisely spent. 

 Hitherto the Eoss and Cromarty farmers have had to appeal to 

 more southern counties for bulls for their farms, but now they 

 can boast of a fruitful vineyard of their own, of which, however, 

 more anon. On farms where cows are kept solely for the supply 

 of milk, Ayrshires or crosses between Shorthorn bulls and 

 Ayrshire cows, are in the majority, and for the purpose for which 

 they are kept these classes of cows are probably the best to be had. 

 The question as to whether or not farmers should breed more 

 of their own cattle than they do forms a very important and 

 dif&cult problem. To discuss it fully would necessitate more 

 space than we have at our command here, and therefore we shall 

 content ourselves with recording our opinion that the farmers of 

 Eoss and Cromarty should breed a good many more cattle than 

 they do at present. Undoubtedly there are several farms in 

 these counties unsuited for cattle breeding, partly because the 

 land grows inferior grass, and partly owing to the high rent 



