SCOTLAND AND ITS PAST. 101 



that in the more cultivated districts cows were kept 

 ill the proportion of ten to every plough, but in the 

 wilder part of the country the number was infinitely 

 greater. 



It is to be supposed that with such numerous 

 cattle, and with such indications of the amount of 

 pasture land, some reference would be made to the 

 dairy ; and, indeed, from these same excerpts,'' we 

 find that much cheese was manufactured on the royal 

 demesne throughout Scotland, and as Tyler remarks, 

 "It is equally cei'taiu that its proper management 

 and economy was not neglected by the clergy or 

 the barons." 



This period seems to have been one of plenty even 

 bordering on luxury, and it is most probable some 

 attention was given at this time to the improvement of 

 the domestic breeds. We know from the Cartularies 

 of Melrose and Kelso'^ that in the fourteenth century, 

 many of the nobles had breeding studs on their 

 estates, and from Rotuli Scotiae we learn that Lord 

 Douglas brings ten "great horses" into Scotland, 

 July 1, 1352. 



King Alexander, who ruled during the last half of 

 the thirteenth century, showed an interest in hus- 

 bandry, and caused a great breadth of land to be 

 brought under the plough ; and according to that 

 quaint chronicler in rhyme, Andrew Wyntoun, 

 " Corn he gart be aboundant." " 



These good old times passed away (all Golden Ages 



" Tyler, op. cit. p. 221. •= Tyler's op. cit. li, 218. 



" Cronykil of Scotland. 



