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grain cannot rise in price in proportion to the decrease oi' 

 its produce, in consequence of the land not being freshen- 

 ed, and enriched by grass and stock. The result must 

 be, that the price of stock will rise enormously on account 

 of its scarcity, a circumstance that cannot be remedied 

 under a succession of years : for first, the lands worn out 

 must be fallowed, and laid down to grass ; and next, stock 

 must be bred for pasturing the land w after it is laid down. 

 The supply of Highland cattle has been much less than 

 formerly, of course, the prices higher, which also will 

 raise the price of other breeds. Another difficulty will 

 also occur ; farmers, who had excellent flocks of sheep of 

 the Leicestershire breed, have rashly parted with them, 

 for the purpose of turning their whole farms into tillage, 

 and cannot get such flocks again, but at great expence, 

 and after a lapse of years. 



On the whole, the convertible system of husbandry is 

 in general to be recommended, where one-half of a farm 

 is in grain, and the other half in grass and green crops. 

 By the grain, a sufficient quantity of straw is provided 

 as food for cattle, where that mode of feeding is adopted, 

 or for being converted into dung, in addition to a reason- 

 able profit to be derived from the grain. By the grass 

 and green crops, a number of cattle are well kept both 

 in summer and winter ; and being well littered as well 

 as fed, a regular and sufficient supply of dung is secured. 

 By this means also, the cattle are so well kept during the ' 

 winter, that should a late spring ensue, or a scarcity of 

 grass be apprehended, and consequently an overstocking, 

 (an event which cannot be too anxiously guarded against 

 by the farmer), a ready market will be insured for 

 them *. 



* Remarks by a farmer in the Mearns. 



