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FARMER^^S MAGAZINE 



MONDAY, 6tli FEBPvUARY 1804. 

 (N^ XVII.) 



BRANCH I. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION-S. 



FOR THE farmer's MAGAZINE. 



A short statement of licirious measures^ calcT.lated for- the im-- 

 provefnent of the County of Caithness, carried on in the 

 course oj the year 1803. 



Introdiictio7i. 

 npHE measures which were in contemplation, for promoting; 

 -*■ the prosperity of this remote district, have been consider- 

 ably checked by the renewal of hostilities w^ith France, which 

 so miexpectedly took place at the comraenceinent of this year. 

 A state of war must, in general, be unfavourable to all sorts of 

 improvement. The difficulty in obtaining capital to carry 

 them on with spirit ; the scarcity of hands, ovv'ing to the de- 

 mands of the army and navy ; and, in remote situations, the 

 trouble attending the procuring seeds and other articles by sea^ 

 from distant parts of the countrj^, and skilful labourers, where 

 they are necessary for the introduction of any new^ system, are 

 all hostile to active and great exertions. But if that v/as the 

 case on former occasions, it is still more so at present, when 

 we are threatened with all the horrors of conquest, by the 

 most powerful state tliat has arisen in modem times ; and 

 when people in general, seem more inclined to consider what 

 are the best means of preserving what they hcve got, than of 

 acquiring more. It were much to be regretted, however, if 

 such a spirit ivere to become general. If that should be the 

 case, this country would soon become unable to persevere in so' 

 arduous a contest. The best foundation of its strength, is the 

 cultivation and produce of its own soil, and if, in addition to 

 the other calamities of \\"\x, Vv^e were to be under the necessity 

 VOL. V. NO. xvii: A oi 



