OF LIVE STOCK. 113 



weight solely. The profit of the grazier must arise, from 

 the improvement of the whole carcase, in consequence of 

 which, the value of the Jean is increased, from perhaps 4d. 

 to 6d. per lb., or in that proportion, whilst the acquired 

 weight sells at the higher rate. This is a point which 

 should always be attended to in the sale, or the purchase, 

 of lean stock. 



Dairy Cows. There is nothing of peculiar importance, 

 in regard to the dairy management of Scotland, except in 

 Ayrshire, and in the neighbourhood of Glasgow and Edin- 

 burgh. Though much attention has been paid to the breed- 

 ing of cattle for the shambles, yet, in many parts of Scot- 

 land, the quantity of milk produced by the cows, (with the 

 exceptions above mentioned), is very inconsiderable. In- 

 deed, nothing else could be expected, from the miserable 

 manner in which the cows were formerly maintained, more 

 especially in the winter season, when they had nothing but 

 straw to live on. This is the more to be regretted, because 

 the dairy is perhaps the most pleasing of all the depart- 

 ments of husbandry, and as there is reason to believe, that 

 converting herbage into milk, by means of a dairy stock, is 

 the most profitable mode of employing it, and the most pro- 

 ductive of human food. A great proportion of the herbage 

 consumed is immediately converted into milk, which is drain- 

 ed off without loss, and as soon as it is prepared ; whereas, 

 when herbage is converted into flesh, a much greater pro- 

 portion of it is constantly wasted, which must be constant- 

 ly supplied. It is supposed, that the same quantity of 

 herbage, that would add, as above calculated, 16 stone or 

 224 lb. to the weight of an ox, would produce 1800 Scotch 

 pints, or 900 English gallons, of milk, which, even con- 

 verted into cheese, (not the most advantageous mode of 

 consuming milk), would produce 36 Ayrshire stones, at 



VOL. I. H 



