850 
Observations on the Means of ena- 
bling a Cottager to keep a Cow by 
the Produce of a small Portion of 
Arable Land, From * Essays on 
Miscellaneous Subjects,” by Sir 
_ John Sincair, Baré. 
HE following paper was drawn 
up forthe consideration of 
the board of agriculture, who, in 
consequence of the observations 
therein stated, and the great import- 
ance of the subjeét, came to the fol- 
lowing resolution : 
Resolved, (June 9, 1801,) That 
a premium of the gold medal be 
offered to each of the five persons, 
who shall, in the most satisfactory 
manner, prove, by experiment, the 
practicability of cottagers being ena- 
bled to keep: one or two milch 
cows, on the produce of land culti- 
vated with the spade and hoe only ; 
and who shall send to the board, 
on or before the first of January, 
1803, the best accounts of such: ex- 
perinsents, detailing, 
1. The expence of erecting the 
cottage, shed, and any other build- 
ing thought necessary. 
2. The expence of providing the 
stock and tools necessary. 
3. The extent of land, and nature 
of the soil occupied. 
4. The expence of digging and 
fencing the land. 
5. The rent, taxes, &c. paid for 
the same by the cottager. 
6. The course of cropping that 
has been adopted. 
7. The quantity and value of each 
of the different crops. 
8. How the cottager and his fa- 
mily are maintained, and how they 
manage to cultivate the ground, and 
to harvest the different crops. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803. 
9. How the cow is paintained 
during the year,-and what profit is 
derived from it. 
10. What profit is derived from 
pigs, poultry, and other articles. 
11. How many days they were 
enabled to labour for other people ; 
and, 
12. How, on the whole, the 
plan has been found to answer. 
In several parts of the kingdom, 
as in Linconshire, Rutlandshire, 
&c, which are calculated for graz- 
ing, it is not unusual to give indus- 
trious cottagers as much land as 
will enable them to keep a cow, 
and sometimes two, or more, be- 
sides other stock ; and it appears, 
from the communication of. lord 
Winchelsea, and others, to the 
board of agriculture, from the pub- 
lications of the society for bettering 
the condition of the poor, and from 
a late interesting work printed by 
Mr. Arthur Young,* that sucha 
system is productive of the happiest 
consequences. It is supposed, how- 
ever, to be totally inapplicable to 
an arable district. I trust that such. 
an opinion will not be admitted, 
without full consideration. Indeed, 
so far as 1 can judge, this advanta- 
geous system is to the full as well 
adapted for the one as for the other. 
It requires unquestionably more la- 
bour on the part of the cottager, 
and of his family ; at the same time, 
the occupation ‘of so great an ex- 
tent of ground i is not so necessary in 
arable, as in grazing countries; a 
circumstance, in various respects, 
extremely material. 
In arranging the following plan, 
(which the reader will please to 
consider, merely as furnishing an 
outlme to be perfeéted by farther 
discusssion 
* Intituled, “ An Inquiry into the Propriety of applying Wastes to the better 
Maintenance and Support of the Poor.” 
