634 



SCOTLAND. 



Agricul- 

 ture. 



Statistics, equal to any horse of twice the stature. Of course, it 

 has comparatively little power in draught. Those who 

 know only the rough animal, commonly exported at 

 prices of twenty or thirty shillings, are scarcely aware 

 of the beauty of this race under careful breeding, often 

 producing models on a small scale equal to the Arab. 



The Highland horse is more variable, ranging from 

 nine to twelve hands ; and when they are perfect of 

 their kind, they are handsome, docile, and persever- 

 ing. Neglected as they are, however, it is seldom that 

 fine patterns are met with ; and it is too common for 

 them to be half starved, while they are equally ex- 

 posed to all the bitterness of weather far more severe 

 than that of Shetland. The ponies of Mull are parti- 

 cularly in repute for their good qualities. The unne- 

 cessary numbers kept by the small tenants are very 

 inimical to their good treatment ; but this is an evil 

 which is gradually disappearing. 



The ancient race of Galloway is too celebrated to 

 require more than a bare mention ; but it has almost 

 vanished. They are, when yet found, of twelve or 

 fourteen hands high, compact and strong, and at the 

 same time both active and hardy. It is to be regretted 

 that a breed so much esteemed for the saddle is not 

 revived before it is too late ; but this will not happen 

 unless this branch of rural economy, that of breeding 

 horses for a market, shall soon make greater progress 

 in Scotland than it has hitherto done. It is esteemed 

 not to be profitable ; but we are convinced that it is a 

 branch of farming which might be rendered so in many 

 of the ruder western districts. 



The Clydesdale or Lanark race varies from fourteen 

 hands to sixteen, and are much esteemed for farm 

 work. Of the other varieties we cannot here pretend 

 to speak. Yet we must remark with the more judi- 

 cious, that the system of horse racing, intended os- 

 tensibly to promote and encourage the breeding and 

 improvement of horses, does not deserve the encomiums 

 commonly bestowed on it. The blood, or thorough 

 bred horse of England, is a defective horse, excepting 

 for the sole purpose of speed, and of speed within a 

 short space and time ; a quality of little or no value 



off the turf. As far as hunters' plates are concerned, Statistics. 

 a good variety of horse is cultivated, and it were pru- * j- ~*- J 

 dent if these were increased to the exclusion of the Agncul- 

 others. The thorough bred English horse is not equal ture. 

 to the Arab whence he sprung ; and his race has per- 

 haps already done as much injury as good in England 

 at least. He has been too much cultivated and crossed 

 to the neglect of others ; and hence the notorious dif- 

 ficulty of procuring good horses for the saddle and for 

 the more general purposes. It is through this race 

 that the vice of stumbling, for which English horses 

 are so noted, has been propagated. 



Before we conclude this account of the agriculture 

 of Scotland, we shall give a tabular view of the nine 

 agricultural districts into which Scotland has been di- 

 vided. 



I. The southern arable district, including Roxburgh- Agricultu- 

 shire, and the three Lothians, which have been called *al dis- 

 the granaries of Scotland. tricts. 



II. The southern pastoral district, including the 

 counties of Peebles, Selkirk, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, 

 and Wigton. 



III. The mamijacluring and commercial district, in- 

 cluding the counties of Ayr, Renfrew, Lanark, and 

 Dumbarton. 



IV. The central district, including the counties of 

 Fife, Kinross, Clackmannan, Stirling, Perth, and For- 

 far. 



V. The north-east Lowlands, including the counties 

 of Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, and Nairn. 



VI. The West Highlands, including the counties of 

 Argyle and Inverness. 



VII. The North Highlands, including the counties 

 of Cromarty, Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness. 



VIII. The Hebrides, including the Western Islands 

 of Scotland. 



IX. The Northern Islands, including Orkney and 

 Shetland. 



The following table contains a general view of the 

 extent and other particulars respecting these dis. 

 tricts. 



TABLE of the Extent, <$-c. (f the Nine Agricultural Districts. 



Cultivated land 



Uncultivated 



Loams . 



llich clay soils 



Gravelly soils . 



Cold or inferior clay soils 



Improved mossy soils 



Sandy soils 



Alluvial haugh or carse 



Total productive soils 



English Acres. 



5 043 450 



13,*900,'550 



1,769,193 



987,070 



681,862, 



510,265 



411,096 



363,771 



320,193 



5,043,450 



following Table shows the number of acres in 

 one y ear > which are under different crops, and in fal- 

 low, grass, hay, and pasture. 



Grass, hay, and pasture . 2,489,725 



Oats . . . 1,260,362 



Turnips . . . 407,125 



Barley . . . 280,193 



Fallow . . . 218,950 



Wheat . . . 140,095 



Beans and pease . . 118,000 



Potatoes . . . 80,000 



