Farminrj of East Lothian. 



301 



addition usually covers the price of the cake. The average 

 price obtained for the keep of a hogget is from hd. to Qd. a 

 week, ewe and lamb about I5. a week. The hoggets when sold 

 will weigh from 18 lbs. to 24 lbs. per quarter, a few superior 

 above 28 lbs. ; ewes from 16 lbs. to 30 lbs. per quarter. Fleece 

 first clip weighs about 6 lbs. to 8 lbs., fleece of ewes about 4 lbs. 

 Sold last spring at from Is. Sd. to Is. Qd. per lb. The per- 

 manent pastures amount to upwards of 6000 acres, one-half of 

 which is consumed by sheep, the other by cattle and horses ; and 

 as each acre will keep at the rate of three sheep, this would give 

 9000 sheep, making in all 65,300. This number is rather 

 under, but closely approximates to the statistical returns. 



On the arable lands the proportion of ewes to hoggets, 

 wethers, and tups is about one half ; and as the proportion of 

 lambs to ewes will be one and a quarter in the arable districts, 

 there will be of ewes 25,000, of lambs 31,250. From the high 

 rates of holding lambs, many farmers last season hogged the 

 lambs. This would decrease the number sold fat by about one- 

 third. 



There are about 2000 Leicester, Southdown, and Cheviot 

 ewes kept in the low districts for breeding tups ; but as the 

 number is so limited, and as they are sold fat after the breeding 

 purpose is served, they are included in the above estimate. 



The number of cattle, on the 20th of May last, was 7576, 

 calves not included. One-fourth of these would be year-olds, 

 reared in the county ; one-sixth cattle which had been fattened on 

 turnips, but not disposed of at that date ; leaving 4700 as the 

 number of cattle being fattened during summer, generally sold in 

 autumn. Part of these are soiled, receiving cake along with 

 grass and vetches. This will about balance the number we 

 have given as year-olds. Average profit obtained from grazing 

 As. a week. When cake is given, more is obtained; but cake 

 is seldom given upon grass except the cattle have been receiving 

 cake with full turnip during spring. Part of the depastured cattle 

 receive turnip for a month or more before being disposed of. 



The demand for grass-parks always raises them above their 

 real value, being taken partly for accommodation and partly for 

 speculation. They are frequently let by public auction, and 

 average about 21. 12s. per acre. For several years the alternate 

 grasses on Phantassie were let by public sale — about 150 acres 

 annually. In some particular seasons the best fields brought at 

 the rate of 5/. an acre. 



We may mention, that, as the permanent grasses are generally 

 in connection with gentlemen's residences, they are usually so 

 much shaded by trees dotted over the fields as to diminish the 

 quantity of stock they are able to keep. 



