COUNTIES OF ROSS AND CEOMARTY. 207 



cases where the land is light and level, even as much as 100 

 acres — are allotted to each pair of horses. Ponies are very 

 numerous among the crofters ; and among the farmers generally 

 there is a very excellent class of gig and saddle ponies from 

 twelve to sixteen hands high. 



Swine, Poultry, and Markets. 



Swine. — Swine do not get that care and attention v/hich they 

 really deserve. They ought to be kept in much greater numbers, 

 and fed and housed better than they are in most cases. These 

 remarks apply very generally to the whole north of Scotland. 

 The number of pigs in Eoss and Cromarty was, in 



1854, . . 4583 

 1857, . . 4568 

 1869, . . 4664 



1871, . . 6980 

 1873, . . 5898 

 1876, . . 6535 



Increase since 1854, . i . 1952. 



Considering that there are so many crofters in these counties, 

 it seems rather strange that so few swine should be kept. 

 Eecently several farmers have been feeding a good many, and 

 taking this into account we do not think that many more than 

 one-half of the crofters keep swine at all. Those that are reared 

 among the crofters are of a mixed and rather inferior breed. 



Poultry. — Poultry-farming is not practised to any gi'eat 

 extent, except by some of the landed proprietors and on a few 

 large farms. 



Markets. — Eoss and Cromarty are well supplied with cattle, 

 sheep, and horse markets. The most important of the lot is the 

 Muir of Ord market, the stance of which is close upon the 

 borders of Inverness-shire. This market, in fact, has been the 

 most important sheep fair in the north of Scotland for many 

 years, while it is also attended by large droves of Highland 

 cattle, Caithness crosses, and Irish cattle. It is held every 

 month all the year round, excepting April, for cattle ; in all the 

 months excepting January, February, and December for sheep, 

 and excepting January, February, April, and December for 

 horses. Cattle-markets are also held monthly at Kildary and 

 Fortrose, and occasionally at Alness Bridge, Dingwall, 

 Invergorden, &c., while sheep markets are held at Coigach and 

 elsewhere. Weekly grain markets take place at Dingwall, Tain, 

 Cromarty, and Fortrose. 



Lahour. 



It has already been stated that Eoss and Cromai-ty are 

 particularly well supplied with labourers' cottages, better, in 

 fact, than most other counties in the kingdom. And we cannot 

 help regarding this as one of the most satisfactory and pleasing 

 features in the agriculture of these counties. The scarcity of 



