PREFACE. 7 



which make agriculture their speciality, but by local 

 newspapers as well. I have already profited not a 

 little by their labours when I compared their notes 

 with my own ; and I have drawn many a hint from 

 the Transactions and Records of the Highland So- 

 ciety, whose Secretary, Mr. Hall Maxwell, has lent 

 me, both in this and other respects, most invaluable 

 aid. 



To ensure accuracy as far as possible (though I 

 see with regret that I have not given the Marquis of 

 Tweed ale credit for the first private introduction of 

 steam-ploughing to Scotland), I have not sent a sheet 

 to press without previously submitting it to those most 

 conversant with the herd or the district, on precisely 

 the same system that all witnesses before a Parlia- 

 mentary Committee receive their evidence to revise. 

 As regards the vein of sporting, which runs more 

 especially through the " South" part, I may men- 

 tion that the whole of the coursing was kindly looked 

 over for me by that eminent ex-judge, Mr. Nightin- 

 gale, and that the quoted descriptions of the styles of 

 many of the great winners are nearly all from his 

 lips. To him and scores of other friends-, who have 

 cheered me on in my labours, and greatly smoothed 

 my way by their hints and hospitality, I owe a very 

 deep debt of gratitude. 



I originally named, and in fact advertised this 

 work as " Field and Fold/' and then found that the 



