Agrkultufe of Scotland. 



77 



The Cheviot breed prevailed all over the southern border, and 

 obtained there also — together with a cross of the indigenous sheep 

 of Northumberland, obtained by an admixture of the Tees and 

 Lincolnshire breeds — in many of the lower districts now possessed 

 by the new Leicesters. The black-faced and native dun sheep, which 

 occupied the more rugged and stormy hills, had now begun to be 

 encroached upon by the Cheviots ; and a favourite mode of effecting 

 this end was by the introduction of the Cheviot ram, which, in the 

 course of a series of years, accomplished a complete resemblance 

 to the species of the male, though these flocks long remained in- 

 ferior to the paternal breed. The short, or black-faced breed, 

 maintained possession of the other mountainous districts of Scot- 

 land, and may be said to have been the only sheep in the High- 

 land districts, though this part of the country was then much more 

 occupied by black cattle ; and we have at this time no trace of the 

 valuable and extensive flocks of Cheviot sheep which now prevail 

 there. 



Upon the whole, from this rapid survey it will appear that 

 many of the fundamental improvements in the art of agriculture 

 had at this time an existence, and in some cases were even called 

 into pretty extensive operation ; but it is evident also that their ef- 

 ficiency was in general prevented from obtaining due develop- 

 ment, mainly in consequence of an over- estimate of the power of 

 those improvements, whereby their salutary influence was destroyed 

 in many cases, by too large and too rapid a demand upon their 

 expected efficacy. It is true the most approved systems, even as 

 then known, had not extended far ; yet the bright spots were so 

 well scattered abroad, and in many places so favourably spreading 

 out, that it was evident a spirit was in operation which, if it met 

 with ordinary encouragement, promised, at no distant clay, to 

 beautify and enrich the land. 



Nor w ere favourable circumstances now wanting to promote the 

 advancement of agricultural improvement. The war with Ame- 

 rica, which had occasioned no inconsiderable interruption to the 

 progress of trade and manufactures in Scotland, was now brought 

 to a close (1783) ; and, soon after the restoration of peace, a pe- 

 riod of prosperity and advancement followed, hitherto unexam- 

 pled in the history of the country. The increased demand for all 

 sorts of agricultural produce, consequent upon a higher rate of 

 wages and the generally improved habits of the people, gave an 

 additional impetu«! to agricultural exertion; and men's minds were 

 naturally directed w ith greater interest to the promotion of a branch 

 of industry so necessary and important to the growing prosperity 

 and rapidly increasing population of the country. Concurrent 

 wdth this favourable state of circumstancies, the Highland Society 

 of Scotland was formed ; and it would be unj ust^ therefore, to at- 



