Sutherland Reclamation. 
403 
now than there were when the farms were first fully stocked, some 
fifty years ago, it is probable that, in consequence of their earlier 
maturity, the number of store sheep annually exported is now 
slightly in excess of the number then sent out. The most im- 
portant change in the management of the flocks has been that 
whereas at first all the stock was wintered in the county, it is 
now the universal practice to send the hoggets to spend their 
first winter on arable farms, commonly in Ross or Caithness. 
The natural herbage of the county was found to be much better 
suited for the adult animals than for lambs. When placed upon 
the green land, the rankness of the herbage caused them to die 
of braxy ; and the annual loss under ordinary management, from 
this cause alone, is stated by Mr. Sellar, in 1830, to have been 
from 15 to 30 per cent. On the other hand, the coarse and 
innutritious nature of the heath and other Alpine plants upon 
the hills, caused among them an ailment still well known in 
Sutherland. It is commonly called pining, but starvation would 
be an equally appropriate name for it. It was described by 
Sellar as " a general wasting of the body, and prostration of the 
strength of the animal, followed, if not cured, by death. The 
skins brought in were found to consist, in a great degree, of those 
of the youngest and worst-fed lambs, which fell at every age by 
pining or drowning, or both, after having gone through the 
ordeal of the braxy." 
It was also observed that, after certain herdings had been for 
several years depastured by old sheep, lambs might for one year 
be trusted on them if well herded. At the present time it is 
usual to send all the wether hoggecs, and the weaker portion of 
the ewe hoggets, to be wintered elsewhere. The strongest ewe 
hoggets are often kept at home, but no such complaint as braxy is 
observed among them. This fact is worthy of special notice, 
proving, as it does conclusively, that the herbage of the green 
land no longer possesses the rank luxuriance that it had when 
first it was converted from tillage to sheep land. 
The crofters used to keep their cattle and ponies at night in 
byres on the low-lying lands, which were thus enriched by their 
dung, as well as by the rude tillage of the soil. That artificial 
fertility or " condition " of the land has been steadily lowered, 
having been carried away by sheep, part of it to be spread by their 
droppings over the mountain sides, and part sent out of the 
county in the shape of flesh and bone and wool. The hoggets 
were at first sent by road to their respective winterings ; since 
the formation of the Highland railways they are now more com- 
monly sent by rail. One advantage of this is, that they can be 
sent farther from home ; and the Sutherland men are no longer 
obliged to accept whatever terms may be offered them in Caith- 
