180 Report on some feahu-cs of Scottish Af/ricullure. 
the field which had been potatoes, followed by artificial grass 
for several successive years, I saw last autumn a catch-crop of 
white turnips which was the largest crop of roots, if not the 
heaviest, that came under my notice anywhere last year. The 
only question in my mind was whether such enormous bulbs 
were sound to the core ; but I have since been assured by Mr. 
Wright that my doubts were entirely unfounded. 
Sheep. — Until recently no sheep have been bred at Dow- 
hill ; but last year Mr. Wright commenced keeping a breeding 
flock. This system having been so recently tried cannot yet be 
looked upon as more than an experiment, so the following 
description is given as illustrative of the practice during a series 
of years, when a feeding flock was alone dealt with. 
The annual purchase of sheep for feeding generally consisted 
of half-bred lambs to the number of from 300 to 500. They 
were bought on or about the 20th August, and put on seeds that 
had recovered their growth after having been fed by the 
previous flock. About the 1st of December they were folded 
in some sheltered fields, and given sliced turnips, with either 
Indian corn, peas, or oilcake — about 1 lb. each per diem — until 
the middle of April or May Day, when the ewe and wether 
hoggs begin to go off, being sold alive in their wool. Some 
are kept until the 1st of June, or later, being put on new seeds 
in the mean time, and still getting corn or cake until fit for 
market. These are clipped immediately before being sent 
away, shearing commencing, as a rule, about the 1st of June. 
Shearing is paid for as day work, and it is thought desirable to 
get rid of every sheep off the farm by the 1st of July. 
Cattle. — From 30 to 40 two-year-old bullocks — generally 
shorthorn crosses — are bought in the beginning of March, and 
put into boxes and yards ; tying by the neck not being an 
article of faith with Mi*. Wright. Their food will consist of 
swedes or potatoes, with about 3 lbs. per day each of cake or 
corn ; generally the former. They begin with swedes, roughly 
cut, and continue them as long as they last, afterwards getting 
washed potatoes. In about two months soiling is commenced, 
the cattle being kept single as much as possible, and in loose 
boxes. At the commencement of soiling, the grass is cut 
morning and evening as required, and given fresh immediately 
after each cutting ; but in the summer one cutting per diem is 
considered sufficient, if the quantity required for the second 
meal is protected from the sun. In addition to the grass the 
beasts get at least 3 lbs. of cake each per diem, and plenty of 
straw ; and they are fed thus three times a day at regular hours, 
being also well supplied with water, which is very necessary to 
soiling animals. These beasts generally go off during July, or 
