168 THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



turnips uncut, with oilcake, and sometimes bruised grain ; at 

 first generally 4 to 5 lbs. a day, but for the last two months 6 to 

 9 lbs. The feeding cattle are sold from Christmas till April, 

 and are generally cleared out by the 1st of May. The cattle 

 that have been wintered are put on to grass and fed during 

 summer. Those fed on rich pastures like the Dunmore policies 

 are fattened on grass alone ; those pastured on ordinary grass 

 have 4 to 6 lbs. of oilcake daily. 



The county excels in Ayrshire cows. In 1882 there were 

 10,081 cows and heifers in milk or in calf, most of which 

 were pure Ayrshires. The dairy system prevails on all the 

 higher grounds, and in the valley of the Forth it continues to 

 increase toward the west, till beyond Buchlyvie there is nothing 

 but dairy stock. At agricultural shows from Denny and Dunipace 

 westward, Ayrshire cows take the lead, and at Drymen show 

 there is no other breed exhibited. At most of the dairy "farms 

 a proportion of calves are reared ; and in 1882 there were 9804 

 cattle under two years of age. Mr William Weir, Inches, 

 Larbert ; Mr John M'Kean, Strathblane, and others, have taken 

 premiums at shows of the Highland and Agricultural Society. 

 Mr Dykes, Blairnavid, has about a dozen medals taken at dif- 

 ferent times for Ayrshires. Mr M'Adam of Blairoer has an old 

 established and most excellent herd. Mr Archibald, Gartfieran,. 

 and Mr Hugh Fleming, Lower Ballaird, are from Ayrshire, and 

 know well how to breed animals with the finest qualities. Mr 

 Duncan Keir, Buchlyvie, is likewise a successful breeder. 



Horses are bred in all parts of the county, chiefly Clydesdales, 

 generally of excellent quality, and a few roadsters. The number 

 of unbroken horses, and mares kept solely for breeding purposes 

 in 1882, w^as 1561, — about one-third the number of horses in 

 the county kept solely for agricultural work. Breeding is prose- 

 cuted chiefly in the w^est, but is not confined to that locality. Mr 

 Simpson, West Mains, Grangemouth, is a successful breeder of 

 horses. He has three to four pairs of superior Clydesdales ; and 

 in 1883 his mares produced four foals. Two of the dams were 

 young brown mares, a " Darnley " and a " Gold Dust ; " and their 

 foals, by Corsewall, are very promising. In the same season Mr 

 Simpson took the first prize at the Falkirk show with a foal from 

 an aged mare bred on the farm, which has always been a good 

 breeder, and all her progeny have been first prize-takers. The 

 mares on the farm are descended from some of the best sires of 

 the day, including " Topsman," " Black Prince," " Prince George," 

 " Gold Dust," Corsewall," and " Darnley." Two of them had foals 

 in 1883, which are very promising. " Kate," a " Topsman " mare, 

 took the prize given by the Highland and Agricultural Society at 

 Falkirk in 1880. Mr Simpson has gained six cups at Linlithgow 

 for the best pair bred by exhibitor, and not under three years old. 



