146 Report m some features of Scottish Agriculture. 
development of this plan was enti'usted to me by the Council last 
summer, when I was requested to obtain materials for a Report on 
the prominent features of Scotch farming. The subjects to which 
my attention was particularly directed were the following: — 
(1) Lowland farming, including arable farming in the 
East and West of Scotland. 
(2) Dairy-farming for the supply of milk to large towns. 
(3) Aberdeenshire cattle-feeding, including arrangements 
for supplying the London market. 
(4) Highland sheep-farming, and West Highland cattle- 
breeding. 
It was considered that these features might be better described 
through the medium of the practice pursued on one or two farms 
of ea( h class ; and it was thus hoped to preserve the connection 
between details of management and conditions of soil and climate, 
which often furnishes the key to peculiarities that might other- 
wise be difficult of explanation. 
In my endeavour to illustrate these features of Scottish agri- 
culture I have attempted to fulfil yet another function, without in 
any way losing sight of the main object of this Report. Of the two 
East Lothian farms which have been described, one may be re- 
garded as a noteworthy example of the culture of rich land, for 
which a very high rent is paid ; and the other as a more typical 
Lothian farm, in which agricultural and commercial success 
has been chiefly due to the ability and enterprise of the farmer. 
Similarly, on the west of Scotland, the farms described were 
selected as proving that, in a humid climate, it is possible to 
use with profit very large quantities of artificial manures, espe- 
cially for the root-crop. The two farms placed in contrast to one 
another show some differences which will be recognized as dis- 
tinguishing English from Scottish modes of cultivation ; but, in 
other respects, they illustrate the same principle. Indeed, the 
four lowland farms are described to show the various methods 
by which good crops may be produced under different circum- 
stances, whether by good land, good cultivation, or liberal 
manuring. The sections of the Report treating of the Aberdeen- 
shire cattle-feeding and Highland stock-farming are illustrative 
of two aspects of the important question of the production of 
meat, whether on land under the plough, or in its natural con- 
condition of hill-pasture; and the description of the Glasgow 
Dairy shows at least one means of supplying milk to large 
centres of population. 
Before plunging in medias res one other word is necessary. 
The cordiality with which I was received in Scotland, and the 
readiness with which I was enabled to see everything for myself, 
