12 FIELD AND FERN. 



hot water on to butter-milk, and putting it into 

 jars when the curds are removed ; and at Voe 

 they quaffed it like nectar, and vainly adjured us to 

 do so. 



The cattle are principally bred by ones and twos 

 among the cottagers, and there are large gatherings 

 of them at Lerwick on packet day, from August to 

 October inclusive. Some years ago, when they were 

 in less request, a friend of ours went over for some, 

 and his wishes were made known, not from the 

 pulpit, as has been sometimes the case, but by the 

 beadle at the church-door. The news spread as 

 quick as an Indian patty- cake, and nearly fifty were 

 in the church-yard for inspection, when he loc-ked 

 out of the vicarage window next morning. "Pro- 

 prietors' sales," as they are called, take place in 

 May, when the small tenants sell their beasts to the 

 dealer, on the understanding that he is to pay over 

 the money to the proprietor, who thus secures his 

 rent. They are all bought for grazing, and are put 

 on some island when the grass is ready, to get 

 freshened up for exportation later in the year. 



There are a few garrons from the Orkneys for 

 heavy draught ; but nearly every one uses the ponies 

 of the country. Duns are in great request ; but the 

 colour is not so much an object if the bone be only 

 good. Greys and chesimts are scarce : bay has not 

 its wonted supremacy ; and bays and blacks are most 

 common. Some buyers began to go against piebalds, 

 from a belief that they had Iceland blood in them, 



