l8oo. BtotyVical Actount of the Panjh of Hounam. t^ 



If the generality of the parifli of Hounam can be more pro- 

 fitably employed in raifing grafs, than under a fyilem of tillage, 

 which we underftand to be the cafe, it may be concluded, 

 without further demonftration, that the intereft of proprie- 

 tors, the advantage of tenants, and the, good of the State, are 

 rdl concerned in keeping it under that mode of management, 

 becaufe under no other can it make fuch returns to the pro- 

 prietor or tenant, or add fo much to the national capital. 

 The only qucftion remaining, is, How this management is 

 to be carried into effect at the lead pcfTible expence, and with 

 the greateit advantage to the public ? 



In every grafs farm, we mean farms where (beep are bred, 

 pra£lical men know well, that, to attain perfe£l management, 

 it is neceflary to have different hirfels or flocks, fo as the old 

 and young, the wedders and ewes, may each be fed upon the 

 ground mod proper for their growth and conftitution. This 

 of courfe requires, that a iheep farmlliould be of confulerable 

 extent, otherwife the profit of the (lock, inftead of paying the 

 landlord an adequate rent, or fupporting the tenant in a fuit- 

 able manner, would be confumed by the wages of numerous 

 idle (hepherds, for whom there would not be half employment. 



It has long been held as an axiom, that, to make manufac- 

 tures flourifn, it is neceflary to Amplify labour as much as 

 pofTible, and, by the aid of machinery, to carry on work at the 

 fmallefl; expence. This, if applied to agriculture, which fe- 

 veral political writers have confidered as the firft of manufac- 

 tures, it mufl; be admitted, that the fyfl;em of management 

 which makes the greateft return at the leafl: charge, is the 

 one mod confident with the welfare of thofe engaged in that 

 profeflion. We have already faid, that the fheep hufoandry 

 appears mod adapted to the foil and climate of thisparilh; and, 

 from what is mentioned above, it follows, that, as this hufband- 

 ry can only be carried on with advantage where the farms are 

 of fufficient extent to provide for difi^erent hirfels or flocks j con- 

 fequently,that fmall farms, under thefe circumflances, are a cer- 

 tain lofs to the landlord, unprofitable to the tenant, and detri-. 

 mental to the public good, as they do not admit the fame juf- 

 tice to be given to the feeding of Iheep, as thofe of a greater fize. 



This brings us to the point at ifi"ue — the proper fize of a 

 flieep farm. It is evident the anfwer mud always be regu- 

 lated by the nature of the foil, the kind of (heep kep!, the 

 facility of raifing winter crops for the fupport of the dock, 

 and by other material circumdances. One general anfwer, 

 however, may be given, viz. That in no part of the fouth of 

 Scotland, fince rents rofe to their prefent pitch, can a farm of 

 200I. rent be called too large. We fiiould rather be inclined 

 to think fucli a one too fmall for a dock farm, more fo if any 



B % one 



