( 



) 



Progress amoiiGj 

 crofters since dis 

 tress ceased. 



proved itself to be admirably and specially adapted to 

 the production of cheese of a high quality, and to the 

 healthy condition of a fine herd of first-class Ayr- 

 shire cows. 1 have had the pleasure lately of renewing 

 the Lease to the son of the tenant who beo-an the 

 enterprise, Mr. Barr of Balephetrish, and who, I have 

 every reason to believe, found it profitable. But this 

 kind of farming, for which the rich and abundant 

 pastures of Tyree are more suited than for any other, 

 is one which cannot be adopted by very small crofters. 

 1 am not without hopes that it may be prosecuted, 

 by crofters of the more substantial class, at some future 

 day, when the great care and great cleanliness which 

 are necessary for the production of really good cheese 

 and butter have been established among the people. 



I am happy to say that 1 have seen great progress 

 among the crofters during the thirty years and up- 

 wards which have elapsed since actual distress ceased. 

 For a good many years it required stringent rules 

 and regulations to establish anything like a regular 

 rotation of cropping. Nor is this to be wondered at, 

 considering the very short time which had elapsed since 

 their fathers knew nothing better than the old bar- 

 barous " runrig " system. The cultivation of the crofts 

 still leaves much to be desired. The little corn-fields are 

 often yellow with weeds. But some turnips are now 

 cultivated, and there are crofts in which a marked 

 improvement has been made on the old traditionary 

 system. I have been lately offering some prizes for 

 the best cultivated crofts, and the judges have in- 

 formed me that the number of tenants who have done 

 well in this matter has made selection difficult. 



These are only special cases, which illustrate the 



