( 31 ) 



capital enougli to start them, or knowledge to manage 



tliem to the best advantage. Nor has this been Advantage to 



otherwise than a great benefit. The iealousy of P^^P^^^^^^^^S"^" 



^ ^ . proved manage- 



" strangers " coming into such farms is perhaps the ment in agriculture, 

 most ignorant, if it be the most natural, of all the 

 Protean forms which the desire of " Protection to 

 Native Industry" assumes. Nothing tends more 

 directly to the stagnation of agriculture in such a 

 distant Island as Tyree than that its people should I 



never see the example and results of a liiglier agri- 

 culture than that which has been represented by 

 their own old habits and traditions. The introduction 

 of new blood is the greatest of all stimulants in such 

 districts, and without it there would be no advance. 



I can specify one signal illustration. The pasturage 

 of Tyree is particularly rich in clovers, and in grasses 

 of the most nutritious kind. Consequently it is 

 admirably and almost specially adapted to dairy- 

 farming. But dairy-farming was wholly unknown 

 in the Island until I took pains to introduce it. 

 The breeding of Highland, cattle and of sheep, 

 together with the growth of potatoes, barley, and 

 oats, constituted the whole agriculture of the 

 Island. But when the large farm of Balephetrisli 

 became vacant some twenty-two years ago, I instructed 

 my factor to look out for a tenant from the low coun- 

 try who should be a dairy-farmer. The disadvantages Introduction of 

 of residence in a remote Island, the character of ^^^^ arming, 

 which was little known in the low country, made 

 this a matter of some difficulty, and involved a very 

 considerable outlay in buildings adapted for the pur- 

 pose. But a tenant was found. The experiment has 

 answered perfectly. The pasturage of Tyree has 



