6 Rttrcspectrje Vie^v of Agyiculture— -Caithness. Feh, 



Cattle. 



6. Tl.e introduction of the best breeds of cattle into a dis- 

 trict, according to the various purposes fori»ivhich they are des- 

 tined, is a most important mean of improvement, which can- 

 notbe too anxiously attended to. Several experiments, with 

 that view, have been tried in Caithr-ess, in the course of this 

 season: a.niong the rest. Col. Williamson has introductd the 

 Argyll breed, which there is every reason to hope will answer. 

 ]\Ir Paterson has brought some oxen from Aberdeenshire for 

 ploughing, and some cows from Buchan have been sent north, 

 cf a sort, considering their size, famous for the quantity of 

 milk they produce "*". It is proposed to compare this breed, 

 with the Ayrshire Cows, so celebrated for the Dairy, some 

 of which have been brought by Mr Dunlop to the neighbour- 

 ing district of Strathnaver. 



7. Impro'vc?ne7its hy small Tenants, 



It is certainly desirable, to preserve as much as is con- 

 sistent with the improvement of a district, its old inhabitants, 

 who are attached to it by many tiwS, and wlio niiglit not for 

 some time feel themselves equally comfortable i ■ other situa- 

 tions. It is difiicult however to adhere to this principle, 



where 



The Euchiin Cows are not so well known as tbey deserve to be. 

 The best sort are polled, generally of a tlark or brov*-n colour. They 

 compaonly weigh, when fattened, from 17 to 18 stone, (16 pound 

 Dutch weight to the stone). Tbey are of so thriving a quality, that 

 they are g'rnerally fai at .he end •: f the Aulm.ir*, without much atten- 

 tion having been paid to their feed, and tho' fleshy, they continue to 

 milk well. Tho' their size is sTiaii, l1 cy will give from 6 to 8, and 

 even as high as 14 Scotch pi*us of ir.ilk per day, (equal to as many 

 English quirts, ) Th':y rre fed principally with Ost Straw in winter, 

 v.hich is found v^reatly preferable to bear or barley straw. Sometimes 

 thty ii'so get wh.it they call plciud hay^ or hay with boiling w^ater 

 thrc^'.n on it. ocme sea ware is al;>c given them, which is very con- 

 ducive to iTiilhii.'iT "'ell; but above all ♦j.cy have a piactice in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Petei-head, cf givmg tlicm green kail in April, which is 

 sown in the spring piecedivg, transph.nted in June or July, stands the 

 win-tr season bettei than ti. "-tip, and vegetates very strong in April. 

 By adopting thi? plaii^ the dreadful interval for the farmer, between 

 the ■v'.'inter ?.T.d summer feed, tni^ght in a great measure be filled up. 

 In general fiom 10 co 12 Scotch pints or English quarts of tlieir milk, 

 give a pound o^^ in.rter. Th .y have mcde, near Peterhead, butter- 

 milk chcc-sc, but it ans'.>i^;s better when the buttermilk is mixed with 

 other milk. 



