74 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



three horses, was mostly in use, ' though some few have 

 introduced Mr Small's chain plough.' In the third division 

 of the county, in which Mr Martin includes nearly all the 

 remaining parishes, he says the farmers had seldom more 

 than one-third in tillage, the remainder being pasture for 

 cows. Though the lands were well adapted for sheep, none 

 were so occupied, excepting some enclosures about gentle- 

 men's seats. The parish of Mearns was ' stocked with the 

 finest milk cows anywhere to be seen, mostly of a brown 

 and white colour, purchased chiefly in Ayrshire when in 

 calf, at £8 to £10 each ; they never breed cattle in this part 

 of the country, but always sell their calves when dropt, at 

 4s. to 6s. each.' Twelve of these small cows yielded, for 

 five months in summer, 120 pints of milk each day. Mr 

 Martin observes that ' the milk cows of the county, in 

 general, are of an excellent kind,' and, ' were they well 

 provided with good winter feeding, and especially turnips, 

 they would greatly improve in size and value.' 



III. CENTRAL COUNTIES. 



FIFE, KINROSS, CLACKMANNAN, STIRLING, DUMBARTON, PERTH, FORFAR. 



Mr Robert Beatson of Pitteadie, who furnishes the 

 General View of the Agriculture of FiFESHIRE, published 

 in 1794, says that, in that county, no regular rotation of 

 cropping was observed, but green crops were generally 

 grown. The plough used was chiefly Mr Small's. Fanners 

 for cleaning grain had been greatly improved. Thrashing 

 machines had also been introduced. Carts had likewise 

 been greatly improved, but it was to be wished that single 

 horse carts were more in use. The county had long been 

 favourably known to the English drovers for its breed of 

 black cattle, ' these drovers preferring them to the cattle 

 bred in the neighbouring counties. They thought that 

 they sooner increased in size than any other cattle they 

 purchased at a like price.' An appendix on the Fife breed 

 of black cattle says, ' the breed is commonly horned.' At 

 two years old the Fife cattle sold at £4 to £s los. ; at three 

 years, if fed for the butcher, at £^ los. to £6. The breed 

 had also a reputation for milking purposes, the cows 



