SCCt.III. THE COUNTY OF FIFE, 263 



SECT. III. HORSES, &C. 



ABOUT 30 years ago, the breed of horses Ira 

 this county was of a small kind, and generally 

 as unsightly to the eye as unlit for the saddle, or 

 for the purposes of husbandry. Since that time, 

 however, they have been much improved, Se- 

 veral individuals, whether induced by taste, or 

 prompted by views of interest, have distinguish- 

 ed themselves by their attention to this object, 

 and can produce horses of their own breeding, 

 inferior to few, either for the saddle or for the 

 draught. But though this be the case, in some 

 instances, it is far from being general. Still 

 there is much room for improvement. And as 

 our present breed of horses excel only in pro- 

 portion as they deviate from the original breed, 

 the best horses and mares from England should 

 be encouraged, which, by mixing with ouf pre- 

 sent improved breed, would soon put us on a 

 footing with such of our neighbours as are most 

 eminent in this respect. And this is of the great- 

 er consequence, as breeding horses for sale, is 

 now become an object of some attention ; the 

 beneficial effects of which will be in proportion 

 to the improvements made on the breed. 



With respect to the use of horses in husban- 

 dry, when compared with oxen, upon conver- 

 sing with actual farmers, I iind there is a diver- 

 sity of opinion. They who give the preference 

 to horses, contend that they can be more univer- 

 sally useful, and perform the \vork more expe- 

 ditiously than oxen ; that on land, where the 

 plough may be endangered by unseen checks 

 and interruptions, the horses will instantly stop 



