ACRieULTURAL MUSEUM 1^5 



m extent as the farm abovemcntioned is, if my memory 

 serves me, it carried only 300 black fac/"(l highland ewes, 

 and thoir produce, the Iambs bein'^ annually sold off. 



After some considerable time, this circvimstance was 

 hroiight to my recollection, by tlie celebrated Mr. Wal- 

 ter Scott, who says, 13th Feb. T80S, " T. here is a curious 

 and rather interesting subject, I have to mention to your 

 I^ordship. Do you remember dining at Ashestiel, with 

 some farmers, wlien a good deal of conversation took: 

 place, about housing s!ieep during the winter? A few 

 days ago, I received a letter from a person connected 

 with one of them, co\eringa sort of treatise on the sub- 

 jr?ct. It seems he had at Hrst consi({ered the plan as ab- 

 sohitoly fanciful, but hke jt^'St .strong beaded men, he 

 had dwelt upoji it in silence for two years, and at lengtli 

 had seen its pronriety ; and considering the possibility 

 with particular relation to ihe sheep grounds of Selkirk- 

 shire, he has pointed out some local advai.tagcs, and ob- 

 viated some local objection!^ to an experiment. I should 

 have liked to have sent t'lis essay to your Lordship>and 

 hidced he was desirous you should sec it; as for me^ I 

 know no moie or3'i"cp,than 1 do of elephants ; but there 

 always struck rncto be a degree of common sense and 

 common principle, ho\^l•^er contrary to common prac- 

 tice, in tric plan of dividing a sheep-walk, and having 

 places to house sheep on each division." 



Tiic young man writes thus: " I think it was once 



about t'.'i'O years ago, n fien you was at — ■ ; 



yon mentioned a jdan of Lord Somerville's, that he 

 tiiought would bp a, great improvement in sheep farming. 

 1 iiive thought of it at intervals ever since, and althougii 

 almost cvevy person to whom 1 mentioned it, thought it 

 very extravagant, as I likewise then did: ycl 1 am now 

 if opinion, that it is not only practicable, but would be- 

 come highly advantageous in many situations, and per- 

 haps at length of grcul national benefit. I have sent 

 j(''\i some observations upon the subject, Avhich [ have 

 put tagethe-r after a good deal of consideration; and I 



