l503. ^J ^oxhurgh and Seihlrhjlj'ires. -j21 



Much time, as well as care and attention, are neceflary to 

 carry thcfe experiments to a conclufive refuit ; but we arc 

 happy to be informed, that they are carried on with fpirit. 



More of black cattle, and perhaps of (licep, would fccm to be 

 bought in and fattened, on the improved pallures and winter 

 crops of the arable parts of the county, than what can be afford- 

 ed from the difpofable produce of the pafture diftricSl. 



The proportions of the dilfcrent breeds of llieep, which an 

 acre of improved pafture will fatten, are ftated as follows : — Of 

 the Diflilcy, three ewes with four lambs, /. e. one of the three 

 ewes being fuppofed, on average, to have twins — of the Che- 

 viot, four ewes with their lambs — of the black-faced five ewes, 

 with their lambs. Thefe will yield, rcfpedively, above the price 

 at which they were bought in, Difliley, 2I. 15s. 6d. per acre, 

 Cheviot, 2I. 2s., Black-faced, il. 17s. 6d. The author, how- 

 ever, obferves, that the whole profit of the black-faced does not 

 appear in this ftatement ; inafmuch as, from their more kindly- 

 feeding, they can be earlier fold, and the grafs cleared for the 

 reception of a new flock. A certain proportion of the black- 

 faced breed is generally to be found in gentlemens inclofures, 

 for family ufe ; being preferred for the delicacy of their mut- 

 ton. 



After confiderable difcufTion as to the mode of changin*** 

 breeds — whether, by felefting merely the beft of the natives to 

 breed from, in which there is no rilk— or by crolTmg merely 

 with foreign rams, which is fafe, as the progeny arc habituated 

 to the fituation from infancy — or introducing; an entire foreign 

 ftock, with difcrepant habits, which is moll hazardous ; our 

 author Teems not to have ittw reafon to adopt any general con- 

 clufion, farther than * that very much may be done by judicious 

 crofTes, and that a good deal alfo depends on foil and eim'.ate« 

 Whether any alterations in thef'i, produced by drains or planta- 

 tions, will prove more favourable to one breed than to others, 

 or prevent or \t^cn the tendency of particular breeds to de- 

 generate in certain fituations, remains yet to be afcertained. ' 



(P- 173)- 



About 2000 calves may be fattened in this county, annually, 

 for Kelfo and Jedburgh markets ; this being a more profitable 

 mode of difpofing of milk, than the m.ikino- of cheefe and but- 

 ter : And about 6000 black cattle may be fattened on grafs, and 

 an equal number upon turnips, for thefri and other markets. 

 The cattle, ftall fed upon turnips, are fo bound to their italls, as 

 to hinder them from raifing their heads above the level of their 

 bodies, to prevent their choaking ; in this way, the turnip can- 

 fiot be forced into the throat, in defcending, by it§ own weight, 



Ggg3 but 



