SCOTLAND. 



Statistic.'. 



Plantations and ll'oodt. 



In our article I'i:iti UMIIHE, Vol. XVI. p. 427, 

 We have given an account of the most extensive plan- 

 tations executed in that county, and information of 

 the same nature will be found in our other county 

 articles. We must, therefore, coiiirnt ourselves with 

 atabular view of the quantity of wood which Scotland 

 is supposed to possess, both natural and planted, the 

 authority fur these statements being the several county 

 reports. 



Stale of the Natural Woods and Plantations of Scotland 

 in Scotch Acres. 



Waste Lands. 



The quantity of waste or uncultivated lands in Scot- 

 land is estimated at 13,900,550 statute acres, that of 

 the cultivated being 5,043,450. Hence little more than 

 a quarter of Scotland is now cultivated ; and of the 

 remainder, although much is valuable pasturage, there 

 is also a great deal which is far less productive even in 

 this respect than it might be rendered ; while there is 

 also a very considerable extent which must for ever 

 continue worthless. 



Of lands reclaimable there are many kinds ; but they 

 are either mountain, or moor, or bog, or marsh, or 

 sandy downs. To detail the various modes of improv- 

 ing these is impracticable in such narrow limits ; and 

 therefore we can only enumerate the following prac- 

 tices, variously applicable, and by which, as Scotland 

 advances in capital and power, much of tbe land will 

 unquestionably be improved. These are, inclosing, 

 draining, cultivation, irrigation, paring and burning, 



YOL. XVH. PART II. 



ploughing, bringing toil and manuring, rolling, 



ing, planting, and Ustly the entire removal of the sur- 



face as practiied in Ulair Drummond. 



A great facility has been given to the improving of '*"* 

 watte lands by the act of 16'J5, for dividing common 

 rights ; and thoic who will examine the state of Shrt* 

 land where this practice ha* not yet been introduced, 

 will speedily hi- runvintvd of it* value. Thin, among 

 other things, have the great patura^e been improved, 

 and rendered many time* more productive than they 

 ever were, or could have been. 



On Live Stock. 



As we have already treated of the subject of sheep On lirt 

 pasturage, we shall now add a few words on tbe sub- Suck, 

 ject of the sheep themtelves. 



The original sheep of the Highlands was the Nor- flhsnj 

 wegian, or short-tailed breed, of which a few are still 

 to be found in Shetland and in St. Kilda. This is a 

 worthless race in every sense ; the carcass being small, 

 though the mutton is good, and the fleece, which is 

 also coarse, seldom reaching beyond half a pound. This 

 was first replaced by the black faced breed, and that 

 has now been followed by the Cheviot so extensively, 

 that in no long time it is likely to occupy most of the 

 great Highland farms. A few Merinos have been in* 

 troduced, together with some half breeds from this ; 

 but they have not yet spread, and their superior value 

 continues doubtful. The Leicester or Dishley breed 

 is also cultivated. The methods followed by the great 

 sheep farmers are so complicated in the detail, as to 

 forbid our indulging in the description ; but the greater 

 farms in the north are frequently in the hands of Eng- 

 lish tenants from Northumberland, and the principal 

 shepherds are almost invariably from that country. 



In the islands, where sheep cannot bear transporta- 

 tion in certain parts of the Highlands held in smaller 

 farms, or where the peculiar nature of the land renders 

 it preferable, cattle farming is also extensively pursued, 

 as it is in Galloway, and many other pastoral districts. 

 The breeds in use are the two Highland varieties, the 

 Galloway breed, the Fife breed, and the mixed breeds 

 of the south-eastern counties. The ancient wild breed 

 is so nearly vanished, as to be merely kept for ornament 

 by the Duke of Hamilton, and one or two other gen- 

 tlemen. 



In the mountain districts, and in some other places, 

 the trade is breeding, and the cattle are driven in a 

 lean state to be fattened in the southern counties, 

 where the demand lies, and in England. Dairy farm- 

 ing is not extensively practised in Scotland, and is 

 chiefly limited to the neighbourhood of the great towns, 

 and for home consumption. The principal, and indeed 

 almost the only cheese manufactory is carried on in 

 Ayrshire. 



With respect to horses, Scotland possesses many dis- Ha 

 tinct breeds and of remarkable qualities ; and though 

 there was a period at which breeding was neglected, 

 it is now fast becoming an object of attention, and is 

 a trade which might unquestionably be introduced with 

 advantage into many of the Highland districts. There 

 are four distinct breeds of horses in Scotland, besides 

 numerous varieties from each. 



The Shetland is probably among the most original, 

 and is well known. Xeglected as it is, it is a strong 

 and hardy race, as well as docile and good-tempered. 

 It never requires the house, and will undergo incessant 

 work without corn, while it will also carry weights 

 4 L 



