chap. XVIII. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 383 



should fall into disuse, through the prodigious 

 trouble the drover is at present subjected to, in 

 making and collecting his purchases. This ob- 

 ject is certainly entitled to the consideration of 

 the gentlemen of the county ; and if of such 

 consequence as the most experienced and intel- 

 ligent among the farmers judge it to be, the 

 sooner the regulation is established the better. 



"jtbly, Farm-Steads. Though many excellent 

 farm-steeds have been lately built in this coun- 

 ty, they are not so general as they ought to be ; 

 and even those that have been built in a superior 

 style, are still capable of much improvement. 

 To what has been said upon this point, in a for- 

 mer .part of the Survey, I need add nothing 

 here ; only I cannot forbear mentioning a set of 

 office-houses lately built by Mr Cheap of Rossie, 

 not on account of their superiority in respect of 

 workmanship, or the number and extent of their 

 conveniences ; but chiefly because they seem to 

 be constructed on an improved plan, and, on 

 that account^ deserving of notice and imitation. 



The roofs of the shades are made to incline to 

 the outside, by which means none of the rain 

 that falls upon them is allowed to run into the 

 straw-yard, to the annoyance of the cattle, or 

 the detriment of the dunghill. The high walls 

 upon \\hich the upper part of the roof rests, be- 

 ing on the inside, prove a more complete shelter 

 from the blast ; and, by encreasing the reflexion 

 of the heat, when the sun shines, render the 

 straw-yard warm and comfortable for the cattle. 



The open shades are likewise so constructed, 

 as to be easily converted into close byres. Doors 

 are prepared, and exactly fitted to the several o- 



