POSTSCRIPT TO HUSBANDRY Anatomised OR, An Addition to the Enquiry into the present Manner of Ordering, Dressing, and Manuring the GROUND in SCOTLAND For most Part; Whereby it is further Explained and Applied, and several good Effects that may follow thereupon hinted at. By the Author of the first.  
Edinburgh, Printed by John Reid, at his Printing-house in Bell's-Wynd 1698.   

Courteous READER,  
NOthing under the Sun is more the Desire of my Soul, than the Universal Good of all Men living, and for those of this Kingdom in particular, being fully persuaded of the Truth of that Maxim, No Man is born for himself; But the Sense of my own Weakness, has long obstructed my undertaking any thing in a Public Manner, pursuant to my Inclinations: But of late having maturely considered the many mistakes this Kingdom doth generally lie under, both in Relation to Husbandry, and several other Things, I have adventured to make an Enquiry into the Manner of Ordering and Dressing the Ground in Scotland, and has Essayed to give some Directions, for further Improvement thereof, and further to explain and apply what is said, I have now added these following Sheets. The Sum of all that I have both first and last said, doth terminat in this, That if every one would take such Measures as easily they may, the Honour, Wealth and Power of the Kingdom, may in a short time be advanced to double of what it is at present; This may seem a very incredible Assertion, but at prosent I shall no further insist in proving thereof. The Calculation being made already, & a brief Hint given of the Means and Ways how it may be Effected: But in the mean time, (I say) if it be True, it is worth the noticeing, and if it be false, it may easily be demonstrated to be so, Such as have any thing to object against what is said, or would have it farther explained, I shall endeavour to satisfy. So long as I abide in Town, I shall attend at the Flanders Coffee-house for that end, betwixt the hours of 10 and 12 in the Forenoon, and 5 and 6 at Night. I could gladly wish every Propriator and Possessor of Lands in Scotland, had Copies of this Treatise, which you may have at the foresaid Coffee-house, at a reasonable Price, but to give all of you Copies gratis, my Circumstance do not allow, neither know I any Obligation on me so to do. But that I may go as great a length this way as possible, without manifest prejudice to myself, I shall leave two or three Copies of this Postscript, for Public Use, at every Coffee house in Town; And in what you can further desire of me in Reason, your Commands shall be willingly obeyed.  
Farewell.   

Postscript  
SINCE I published these foregoing Sheets, I had occasion to discourse with severals on that Subject, and partly have learned what Entertainment they are like to meet with: Some indeed seem to favour my Opinion beyond my Expectation, and none that I have yet met with, do disprove of any thing I have therein proposed, except that concerning Housing of Sheep; And to tell the truth, any Arguments they have yet adduced to prove their Point, are so far from making me alter my Opinion, that I am rather thereby confirmed in the Truth of what I have said: Nevertheless I find I am not fully understood by any, nor the Project received with that Applause I humbly conceive it deserveth. This may seem a great piece of Vanity in me to assert, however I hope to make it manifest beyond controversy: For I doubt not to assert by following the Measures, I have proposed, the Honour, Wealth and Power of the Kingdom, may be thereby doubled at least.  
Perhaps it may be asked, why I did not assert as much in the preceding Sheets? My Reason was, I know Landlords are generally too severe upon their Tenants, and if they see them in a thriving Condition, they either heighten their-Rent, or oblige them to remove, so that Farmers are altogether discouraged to make any Improvement whatsoever; Wherefore I thought it needless for me to mention the Landlord's profit by this project, that being a thing that he would see to of his own accord; And I endeavoured only to show in general, what benefit may be made by this Project, leaving the Landlord and Tenent to share it betwixt themselves. Yet in the 43 page, I gave an obliqne hint at the Landlord's profit, but I find General Doctrine is not the best; I humbly conceive, it may contribute more to the propagating of this Project, to speak a little more particularly to the point, and that not only by improving of Ground, but also the Effects that may follow thereupon, this being a feasible Way for making a Stock, its certain that Stock may be improven also.  
But I say, seeing Landlord and Tenent must concur in the prosecution of what is here proposed, both must share of the benefit, otherways it cannot be expected they will unanimously push it on; Therefore in the first place, I would advise the Landlord to give the Tenent good security, that he nor his shall not be obliged to remove for some three, four or five score years, if not to all Generations, hereby the Tenent has Encouragement, to make what Improvement he pleaseth, the benefit is his own: On the other hand, I would have the Tenent obliging himself, and his Heirs and Successors, to pay at the end of every seven years, one years Rend be way of Entry or Fine, over and above the yearly Rent he now payeth. I fancy at this the Tenent maketh answer for himself, protesting this is too hard for him to do; But I'm afraid the Landlord be of another Mind anon: However good Tenent, I would advise you to give the Landlord no less, providing you get security for continuing as above said, (on other Terms I will not desire you) And I promise, if you follow my Direction, you shall not repent it. When I desire you to give out a Sixpence, if it bring in half a Crown, you sustain no loss: But so it is, every Sixpence you give out this way, shall profit you no less, after the first seven years are over.  
In the 27 page, I suppose a Farmer possessing a Room of sixty Aikers, to have alwise forty of it in Corn, on half Croft, the other half Out-field and other 20 Aikers in Grass. By the Corn he must pay his Rent, for according to the common way of keeping Cattle on Dale Ground, little or no profit is had of them, as is showed page 29; Now if by the profit of forty Aikers of Corn, you are able to pay 300 Marks of Rent, then by the profit of 26 or 27, you may pay 200 Marks: Therefore leave one third of your Corn-Land Grass, and you shall pay no [more but 200 Marks for the said two thirds you have in Corn, unless I let you see a Visible Way how you may get the other third hundred Mark paid, by and attour the Increase you formerly had upon the same quantity of ground.  
The first year you leave the third of your Corn-Land Grass, you save 13 or 14 Bolls of Grain, wherewith you used to sow it; You also save the Labour of as many Aikers, which with the price of the Seed, may be reckoned as many pounds Sterling; With this Money I would have you to make an Orchyeard, as page 34: Then take the whole Dung you used to lay upon 6 or 7 Aikers of your Croft, and lay it upon 3 Aikers only, this three Aikers I think may be supposed to produce two Bolls more a piece, than what they did formerly, and in respect you are at no more Expense of Seed and Labour of an Aiker that produceth ten Bells, than if it produced three, except Threshing, and the Straw will do more than pay that Cost, wherefore I reckon you save 6 Boils free profit on this three Aikers, this six Bolls 5 pound per Boll, pays 30 lib of your third hunger Marks, so 36 lib. 13 ss. 4 d. remains unpayed for that year, which the Landlord shall spare till you can pay it with the product of the Ground. The second year dung other three Aikers, on which you may also have two Bolls profit a piece, the first three Aikers continue to have two Bolls more than ordinar for four years. so you have twelve Bolls profit this year; which pays your third hunger Marks, except 6 lib. 13 ss. 4 d. this added to what remained unpayed last year, makes in all 43 lib. 6 ss. 8 d. The third year you take in other three Aikers after the same manner, on which ye have the like product, which makes eighteen Bolls this year, which pays the third hunger Marks, and 23 lib. 6 ss. 8 d. more, so nothbing remains of your by gone Rent, except 20 lib. The fourth year you take in other three Aikers, on which with these nine already mentioned, you have 24 Bolls profit, which pays your third hunger Marks, which the 20 lib. of by gone Rent, and 50 Marks more; Let this be laid by towards paying your Fine. The fifth year dung that which you dunged the first year, and so continue to go over the four parts of your Croft Successively. The three years that are yet to expire before the end of the seventh year, you have 24 Bolls profit per annum on you're 12 Aikers of Croft, whic yields 80 Marks a year more than your third hunger Marks, three time 80 and the 50 Marks laid by the fourth year, is 290 Marks, which payeth your fine all to 10 Marks, and to pay this 10 Marks with, you have all the profit of your Orchyeard, the Roots and Kail you have in it, may be more profitable than ten Bolls of Grain for your Family, which may be reckoned fifty pounds; The Flay of an Aiker and half, may be worth eighteen poiunds. A Crown a piece of twelve Sheep keeped on the Stubble of your Orchyeard, is 36 pounds. Honey worth 24 lib. this in all makes 123 lib. And when your Fruit-trees grow up, you may have as much profit of them, beside the Out-field all this while will be growing better by degrees, as well as your Croft, so that by this time you may have a Boll per Aiker more on it than ordinar: And your Grafs being both better, and much more of it, providing you observe the Direction given page 38, You may make 200 Marks profit of your Cattle. Moreover, your Ground is but beginning to be brought to a good Condition, you can not expect it will be as good with once or twice Dunging, as afterwards it may be: Will either Man or Beast that is lean, be made fat by a Meal or two. I do not think in less than 24 or 30 Years, the Ground can be brought to so good a Condition as afterwards it will be; And Tenants get not long Tacks, never think they will Improve it for other Men: But even from the beginning, you see there can be profit made abudance, to encourage any body to let about it. To be Brief, I desire not to reckon every thing narrowly that may be made of it, lest the Landlord's grudge; But I offer to make it evident, to the Conviction of any Reasonable Man, That Farmer's following this Method, shall be enabled to pay their Landlords all that I have spoken off, and shall have more profit by far, than they can have by following the present way. Tho they did not pay one Sixpence, for when all the above mentioned profits may be made without Hedging or Enclosures, what profit may be expected when that pains is taken, and Manure extraordinar provided, as pag. 72, beside many other pieces of Improvement. Now if this be true, as I am persuaded it is, then has the Tenent as much Gain, as if he had his Room for nothing at all; And it is not one Tenent, or ten or hundred, that receiveth this Benefit, but all and every one through out the whole Kingdom may have this profit; I do not mean every indevidual Farmer may make a like Advancement in their profits, for in some places the Ground may be so much improven, that triple ptofit may be thereof made at least; Other places cannot so well be advanced above one third part, but complextlie considered, I am persuaded that the whole of it may be doubled. Therefore I conclude, Farmers in prosecution of this Project, shall be as great Profiters, as if they had another Kingdom equal to this bestowed them Gratis, providing they changed not their Ancient Custom; And the Heritors or Propriators of Lands, are so far from being at any loss, that they reap a seventh part more Benefit than at present they do, beside their present Rent is secured, so that it is most visible, that the Heritable Stock of the Kingdom, may be more than doubled.  
Now If a poor Man that cannot guide himself, may be permitted to direct others, I'll show you how the Movable Stock, may be as much increasced, and then I hope my assertion is proven. Landlords to you now I direct my Discourse, Perhaps ye may grudge, I allow nothing but a seventh part, where the Tenent has so much; The Truth is, Tenants have but a sorry Life of it, as Matters go at present, and they had need of the greatest share of the profit, beside, they are at all the pains, & run all the Risque, for though they should not make all the benefit I propose, still are they obliged to pay you; But I say more, You may accept of Little, where you could expect nothing at all: I suppose your Predecessors and yourselves, have taken the best Measures you can to advance your Rent, and more than it is at present you could never make it. Now if I shall lay down a way, how ye may advance it a seventh part, (which I dare almost promise in name of all the Farmers in Scotland, providing you gave them long Tacks) then have you so much Gain ye could never expect, and seeing their profit is not your Loss, you have no Cause to envy them; But what if I make it appear this Fine, atithe end of every seven years, shall be more beneficial to you, than one third part more every year: 'tis like ye may call this a Maggot, but let me be heard before I be condemned.  
Commonly all People live according to their Rent, whether it be little or much, he that has 5000 Marks per annum, may have as much free Money at the Years end, as he that hath ten or twenty: So I say though you had a third mote Rent, ye would perhaps find way to get it disposed of, as well as what you have; Yea, but say ye, than we would live so much the better or more splendid: 'Tis a Question if ye would, for ye had better have an hundred Pounds well paid, as an hundred and twenty promised, when the Tenants are not able to pay it punctually at the Term. but this one running on in Arrier half a Years Rent, the other a whole year, and a third two Years, and some breaking now and then amongst hands, and Factors Accounts running on in Confusion, so that its very hard to red Marches with them: And in the mean time; when you might have your Money, to bestaw to the best Advantage ye could, you are obliged to run in Merchant's Accounts, with many other disadvantages: I doubt not but an hundred Pounds punctually paid, is better than an hundred and thirty paid after this fashion. Beside all this a Gentleman getting the name of so much Rent, he must keep a Table and Retinue, answerable thereunto. From all which Disadvantages he is obliged to burden the Heir, for the providing Portions to the rest of his Children, and that lieth on his Shoulders from Father to Son, till that Family be extinct, or else the rest of his Children are so meanly Provided for, that they cannot live any way suitable to their Station, and they being too gentle to learn, or follow any honest Employment, must either go abroad to push their Fortunes, or go up and down the Counrrey like Vagabonds, this is the Case with many: But if it be said, this is not the Case with all, I shall readily confess that, but that needs not hinder me to give my Advice to others, neither can they be the worse to hear it: But I say by this Project, even theso that are in the worst Circumstances, shall have the Rent that now they have the Name of, well paid, though at present it be otherwise, and shall have all their Children honestly provided for, without burdening the Heir a sixpence, and to make this the more plain, I shall meek a Supposition, thus.  
I suppose a Young Gentleman succeeding to his Father's Estate, in the twenty or twenty first Year of his Age, the Tacks of his Tenants are half run, so in the twenty fourth year of his age, the Entery Money and Grassum due be his Tenants, is paid to him, I suppose his Yearly Rend to be 5000 Mer, the Fine he now receiveth is just so much, this is all ftee profit, for if his Tenants had followed their old way foe Labour, this he could not expect, and now his Yearly Rent is entire beside this; Wherefore I would have him lay this 5000 Marks by for his eldest Child, except the Heir, which perhaps is not born for half a dozen Years to come; I would have him count it Sacrilege to meddle with it, but let the Interest thereof be gathered for the Child's Use, and before the Child be Marriageable, it may be doubled if not tripled. In the 31 Year of his Age, he hath another Fine paid him, which may be laid up for another Child; In the 38 Year of his Age, another Fine falleth due, lay this by for a third Child; In the 45 Year of his Age, as much for a fourth Child, in the 52 Year, as much for a fifth Child, and in the 59, a Portion for a sixth Child: This before he be sixty Years of Age, he has Reasonable Portions provided for six Children, beside the Heir, if he have fewer, he may give each of them a Fine as is showed and divide the Superplus amongst them; If he have more, (as very few hath,) than he may get the rest more easily portioned, that these are provided for already. But say ye, Perhaps before the Father exceed fifty Years, his Eldest Son may be married, and so long as the Father applieth this fine, for the Use of his own Children, the Son cannot have it for the Use of his; Such a thing may fall our, but it's as probable, the Father will not have so many Children, as what I have supposed, and if he have not above 5, that which is appointed for his sixth Child, may be settled on his Oey, but make it as ye will, 'tis better to have so many provided for, as none at all.  
But say ye, all this is not so good as another third more Rend, for we can be our own Stewards, and live more splendid, and though we lay but one half of that third part more additional Rent by every Year, we may therewith provide our Children more plentifully, than what is proposed.  
But ye would consider, if ye had a third more Rend than what ye have, it would be expected you should live accordingly, and if ye do it not, ye will be reckoned Misers; And beside when your Rents are screwed to the highest. you cannot have them punctually paid, and so run in all the Inconveniences above said: Wherefore I'm of Opinion, though you had 10000 lib: a year, you cannot so easily lay 500 up for your children's Use every Year, as you may lay this fine by, every seven Years once. But say ye one Tenent payeth his fine this Year, another the next, so we get not all in one Year. therefore we are at the same pains in gathering of it, as if we had only so much more Yearly Rend. To which I say, I would have you order it so, that you may have it all to come in at oncs, and though some of your Tenants should begin to set about this New Method at one time, and others at another, when the time comes that the first are to pay their fines, rather tako from these that have begun last, proportionable to the Years they have followed this Method, and enter them altogether, as take it in by parsells, for I am apt to believe it will not do so well, to come in at several times.  
Perhaps some may object, if every Landlord follow. this Method, all will have Money. to lend, and none will need to borrow, therefore it will be impossible to get all this great Stock; put to any profitable Use.  
I wish it were come that length, to have more Stock than we know how to dispose of, but since ye have had patience to hear me hitherto, be pleased to hear my Answer to this also.  
By the Prosecution of this Project; I shown page 32 and 33, a great dale of people may be spared, that are now employed in Tieling and Dtessing the Ground, except they be employed in making Enclosures, and even though many be set to that kind of Work, there will be abundance notwithstanding to labour in Manufactures; There is no doubt, if people apply themselves, in good earnest that way, Manufactures of all kinds may be much propagated in a short space: For want of Stock, that great obsticle, being removed, all other Letts may be easily overcome: Now, if every individual Propriator of Lands throughout the whole Kingdom, may have a Years Rend every seventh Year, beside his ordinar Rent, What vast Stock will this make in all? Four hundred thousand pounds Starting, and even but a part of that is thought sufficient to advance our African Trade: And I suppose one Years Rend of all the Lands in Scotland, may be four or five times as much: What great Trade of Fishing and Land Manufactures may be thereby carried on? And how much the more, considering 'tis not only so much Stock advanced at first; But infallibly this may be renewed every seven Years; And how much this may promote the Honour, Powet, and Wealth of the Kingdom, according to my weak Judgement, may be more than can be easily credited, until the event prove it; I doubt not but within 24 or 30 Years, the Movable Stock of the Kingdom may be tripled, without going to Foreign Plantations to seek Wealth, or digging in Mines for Ore. By this project every Man may dig. Treasure out of his own Field, for by observing the Measures proposed, both Cattle and Grain may be greatly increased, so that we may both live more plentitullie, and have much thereof to export, beside the uspeakable Advantage of Manufactures: And that which makes this project the most feasible of all others, is, That one needs no Dependence on another; except betwixt Landlord and Tenent, and there is more Hopes to bring two to one mind than a great Society of people. I may take my own Measures in Ordering and Dressing my own Ground, whither others do the like or not. But in many other projects, there must be a concurence of a Multitude, and perhaps the Managers sometimes prove not so faithful to all concerned as could be wished, but in this it is otherways. And another advantage in this project. there is no Risque to run, the worst that can befall, no loss can be sustained by the Undertakers, wherefore I conclude, if this be not set about, we need to try none other whatsomever.  
To answer all Queries and Objections that may occur, about this project would take more Room than can conveniently be allowed here, therefore I refer that work to another place. But in the mean time, I shall answer some few, which I judge may be most material; Perhaps it may demanded, What kind of Manufactures can be propagated in this Kingdom:  
To which I say; All sorts whatsoever: For I know no Reason why that can not be wrought here, that can be fashioned or performed with men's Hands in any place of the World, providing we have the same Materials, and were bred too, and taught in these several Arts and employments, and in no place without both of these, can any thing be performed, and even though we stand want Materials, of the things we stand in need of, aught to be made or composed; We may get these things unprepared, much cheaper than the made Work.  
We have two universal Objections against everything that can be said in perswadidg us to any thing we have not been accustomed to. If it be said our Ground may be improven, and the more to convince us of this, Instance the Example of others. It is answered, our Ground is naturally more barren than other Kingdoms; If we be desired to set about any Handy Labour, than our Water is so bad; that therewith we can neither Die, Bleach, make Hats, nor Mill Cloth,  
To the first I say, if our Ground be bad, we take the wrong way to make it better, for the best Ground in Europe, being used as commonly ours is, shall in a short time grow little better than our own, for so long as it will bear Corn, we plough it over and over, till the product can scarce defray the Expense of Seed and Labouring, and then we give it a smell of Manure only, or else leaves it Grass a Year or two, and as soon as it gins to gather a Soared, up the red side of it again, so that in effect they will neither let it bear Grass nor Corn.  
Now say I, behold how much our next Neighbours in England manage their Ground to advantage more than we do? Your Answer is, Their Soil is Naturally better, and their Climate warmer. What is your inferrence? For notwithstanding the fertility of their Soil, and warmness of Climate, they think it necessary to plant Hedges to keep it warmer, as page 64. And also they find it for their Advantage, to make but a fourth or fifth part of their Ground Corn at once, because they cannot get all of it sufficiently keeped in Manure. But because our Ground is more barren, and Climate colder, therefore we need not use Means to restrain External Cold, and may always have one half, or two third parts of it in Corn. Is this your inference? Well, good enough, I think it needs no Answer.  
To that Objection anent the badness of our Water, I would fain ask a Question, which may serve for an Answer to to this, Do ye think the badness of our Water has any Influence upon a Man working in Iron or Wood, that his Workmanship is not so good perhaps as else where it may be had?  
Then say ye the people in this Kingdom must be much duller than others, and therefore they can never attain to the like Dexterity in any Curious Art, or Mechanic Operation, with these of other places.  
This I will be very loath to grant, for the contrar I firmly believe, but indeed I will confess, That commonly our Mechanics are not so Dexterous or Expert as others; But the Causes may be one or all of these. First, We have not the Instruction or Education of several others, and can it be expected a Man that has not been Taught or Entrusted in such or such an Art, can be an equal Proficient to him that has had that Help, providing they are of equal parts, take a Man of any of these Nations you pretend are most Expert and capable of Instruction, and put him to do a piece of Work he never did or saw done, can be perform it as one that is experienced with that sort of Labour? Secondly, It is the Vulgar Opinion, Nothing that is made within the Kingdom, can be so good as that which is brought from Abroad, Nor will they give so much for it, although it be really better, so the Seller knowing he cannot have a price for it, if he should bestow Labour upon it, makes it his Study how to afford his Ware cheap, seeing the Buyers will not bestow a price upon good Ware, and that only because it is our own Home ward Making. Another Cause why our Mechanics are not so Dexterous as perhaps others are, is, They abide not closely at one kind of Work, but from one thing to another, so that they can't be so expert in several things as they might, and undoubtedly would be in one thing: But in may other places, Mechanics abide closely at one sort of Work, so that they become not only expert as to the making of the Work good, but also a far greater quantity of it; I remember I heard a Nailer, that's a Nail-maker tell. He knew a Man that was accustomed to work in nothing but Sparrowbills, a sort of short Nails wanting heads, he used to make a very considerable number of them, he said to the number of 7 or 8 thousand a day. and yet if he had been set to make common Nails, he neither could make them good, or any considerable number of them: I doubt not but a Man abiding still at one kind of Work, may both attain to a greater Dexterity in making of it fine, and do much more of it, than another that from one thing to another, is continually turning.  
But says some, We have had Mechanics from abroad, and we have tried to make several things, and particularly Hats, and Broad Cloth in this Kingdom, and yet we cannot make our Ware so good, as what we can have from abroad.  
Who knows whether these Foreigners be the most expert of their Employments, in these places from whence they came, or perhaps they may be subborned to conceal the Art of their Calling, or perhaps their Masters find it not for their Advantage, to bestow the Expense that is required in making the finest Ware, because we have sucked in that Tenet, It cannot be fine enough, if it be our own homeward making. Moreover though there be some few skilled in these Employments to direct, yet they cannot do all the Work with their own hands, and till these that assist them, come to some measure of Dexterity, it cannot be expected their Ware can be so good, as otherwise it may be. These that would propogat any new Manufacture, must lay their Account to labour under several Disadvantages at first; For instance, when Soap Manufactures were first set up in this Kingdom, their Soap was not so good as what we had from abroad by far; These at Glasgow gave it over, as a thing they could not accomplish, these at Leith continued to work on, and now have acquired so much knowledge in that Art, that their Soap is better than that we have brought from abroad; From whence I conclude, if these in Leith had given over, as these at Glasgow did, it had been thought our Water in this Kingdom was so bad, that Soap could not be therewith made, whereas we see the Falsehood of that Conjecture: My Opinion is, that what ever any may object against Water in other Cases, it's altogether groundless.  
I should think if Strangers were encouraged to set up here for themselves, or some of our own Country Men sent abroad, to be instructed in the knowledge of these Arts, wherein we have least Knowledge, it might be a Mean to propagat Manufactures; And especially Fishing and woollen Manufactures, might prove to the Kingdoms Unspeakable Profit, if they were promoted: Yea there is no kind of Art or Employment, but what we might acquire Knowledge in, if we had Means of Instruction; And because formerly the great Cause of our living at home in Penury, was Poverty and Want of a Stock, once to set about any Fru ga' litie (for a poor Man is still keeped poor, because he has nothing once to put him in Capacity to do for himself) I say by this Project that Malady is removed, and we are put in a Capacity to propagat Manufactures, build or buy Ships, and do many other things that may advance the Honour, Pover and Wealth of the Kingdom.  
But says some, Fine Cloth cannot be made here, because our Wool is course; Grant it is, We may buy as much Wool, as may be sour els of Cloth, for the price of one Ell, and beside if our Sheep were keeped, as is proposed Chapter 5, our own Wool may be much improven, than we save the other three parts of the Expense, it would cost ns. I know it will not be for a fourth part of the price to the Wearer, but I mean the fourth part of the Money or Ware, that is exported forth of the Kingdom, to bring home Cloth may be saved, and a great dale of People, that are at present employed in Touling their Lives out, working in the most industrious Way that can be invented to run out the Ground, may be employed in making the said Cloth, and other profitable Employments; And because I told you, I had met with some Opposition, concerning the way of Stock keeping I have proposed, I shall let you hear the most material Arguments, any have yet adduced to prove the contrar.  
Some acknowledge Housing of Sheep, may be practicable in a few, but not in great numbers, others foresecing, granting the first, is the high way to overturn the latter, manfully dispute against both, the strength of their Arguments are these, viz: To put Sheep in houses, makes them scab, and the great difficulty of getting Litter or Bedding to them, and also the Expense of build-Hutts will be great.  
To the first I say, if it be true, than I confess its a very pungent Objection, and because some bring in matter of Fact as a proof, I shall show what I know of Matter of Fact to the contrar, I have known 5 or six score sheep, for a dozen or sixteen Years together, put in Huts every Night, and not one of them was scabbed, during that time; Now if a hundred can be lodged so conveniently, as may prevent this bad effect, than a hundred thousand may also be preserved the same way, providing the like Care and pains be taken on every hundred of them. But I'll tell you where the Mistake lieth. Some Stock-keepers that have tried the Experiment, to save a little Expense in building Huts, have crammed them so throng, that one could not conveniently lie beside another, neither did they take Care to have them lying clean and dry, from whence this bad Effect followed: When I desire a Man to hold out of a Mire on his Right hand, I bid him not leap into a Ditch on his Left, when I complain of letting Sheep lie out wanting Food, amongst Frost and Snow, page 94, I do not desire they should be used after this fashion, but page 97, I recommend building of Huts so large, that the Sheep may lie at ease, and have free Air, and page 99, by all means to lay them clean and dry.  
Others say, when they buy Cattle to put in their Parks, for fattening these that are accustomed to lie without, take on flesh much sooner than these that have been housed.  
To Answer this distinctly, I will give you this Similitude; Let a Highland Man that is accustomed to go through Bogs and Glens, with only a lose Played about his Body, his Buttocks altogether bare, and his Brogues that defend him not from one drop of Water. Now I shall readily believe, this Man in the beginning of a Campine, shall endure more Hardship than another that has been accustomed to good Keeping and warm Clothing; Yet I shall scarce be persuaded to follow his Example. No doubt Cattle that accustomed to lie in a warm house, will not at first agree so well to lie without in a Park, as other accustomed thereunto; But let them be put in a house all night, and feed with the other all day, I doubt not but they may be as soon fat as the other.  
Now to the building of Sheep Cots, I say, if Stones can be easily had, you may make the walls of stone, if not, Sods or Turffs may serve, the form I judge most convenient, and least expensive, is a square of 50 foot each way, 4 feet in height will be enough, then within this build another wall ten foot from the other, the inner square is 30 foot in length each quarter, but in stead of this inner wall, let there be only pillars made for the support of your Roof: The Reason why I recommend leaving one side of the House open, is to let the Sheep have Air, but if the side of a single house were left open in all Wether, it could not defend from Storm and Snow; The breadth of your House being only the distance betwixt the inner and outer wall, viz: ten foot, Cuples of 7 or 8 foot length may serve, and in regard they are short, they will not need to be very thick, about the thickness of good Care polls may serve, which being placed at 6 or 7 foot distance, about 30 Cuples will serve the whole Square. The outer wall of 50 foot each side, being builded of Sods, or with some few Stones mixed with the Sods, will not cost above ten Shillings of Expense, the Cuples may be had I suppose for ten pence a pair, which is 15 pounds, small Sticks will serve for Cabers or Ribs: But giant they are as dear as the Cuples, both make but 30 pounds, say the Thatch cost as much as the walls, all make but 42 pounds, and this Square will contain 12 or 15 scores of Sheep with ease: But call them but 12 score only, the Expense is but 3 ss. 6 d. for every Sheep, not the price of two years smearing; This House keeped in Thatch, may last 30 Years, and the Thatch I reckon nothing at all, for grant you put Divets on it every two Years once, they are worth all your pains for Manure.  
As to the beding of your Sheep, I say, if ye have Corn, as is supposed page 100, ye have Straw enough for that use, if not, Rushes, Bend, dry Sand, or any thing that may keep them dry and clean will serve; But if none of these things can be had, then can you not want Divets; And because this is the most expensive, I shall reckon how far your profit may go beyond your Cost in this. A Man may cut or cast ten Cart load of Divets in a day, that is six pence, say the drying and bringing of them home cost twice as much, you have them cheaper than two pence a Cart, every Cart of Divets, will be 2 or 3 of Dung, because the Piss and Dung, add both to the weight and bulk, the Cart of Dung is worth 14 pence, as was showed Chap. 5. When your Sheep begin to lie any thing wet, lay a new course of Divets over the whole floor, with the green side up, or if you have Straw or Rushes, ye may bed them whiles with the one, and whiles with the other; The profit you have by this Labour, is more than ye readily can believe, for your Sheep being provided in Food, and preserved from cold and wet, they are in a much better Condition, Especially that time of the year, when they are with Young; And I am of Opinion, that any Creature receiving wholesome and plentiful Nourishment, when it is in the womb, is thereby more strengthened, and brought to a wholesome Constitution, than by any so long time feeding, during the time of its Life; And though severals of our Stock-keepers may feed their Cattle pretty well in Summer yet very few provide for them in Winter, as the Schamles can bear Witness.  
Perhaps it may be said, these Divats being cut upon the Pasture, will spoil a great dale of Ground. To which I say, you cannot in Reason expect much Benefit, but you must be at some loss; I do not propose this as a thing that may be done without any Cost at all, but I endeavour to make it evident, that your Profit shall be more than your loss; And if you will consider the Benefit your other Ground receiveth by the Sheep Dung, you'll find all the prejudice ye sustain by the loss of so much of your Pasture fully repaid with Interest.  
To insist in speaking to every thing that may be for the further explaining and applying of the whole Project, and touching of many things concerning Husbandry, I have not yet spoken to all, would take up thrice as much as all I have yet done: And to be plain, I have no great inclination to engage myself in the Expense that will be required to finish such a Work, until I see further what Entertainment that which I have done already meets with. I have said as much as I can in few words, and for aught I know, am the first in this Kingdom that has essayed any thing on this Subject. But I'm of Opinion, there may be several Directions given, concerning the Ordering and Dressing the Ground, more useful to the Inhabitants of Scotland, than what has yet been proposed by any that ever wrote upon Husbandry.  
I know severals have written perhaps as well as any Man can in general But none of these being particularly acquainted with the Nature and Constitution of Ground in this Kingdom, nor with the particular mistakes the people generally lie under, their Directions cannot so exactly answer our Case. A skilful Physician may prepare Physic or Medicine, very good for many Diseases; And yet a far less accomplished Physician, may prepare Physic that is fit for the particular use of one whose Constitution and Disease he knoweth: I doubt not but particular Directions may be given in Relation to Husbandry, more exact to our Case than any yet proposed by Strangers. Ploughing too much of the Ground, Leaving it without Fence, And overlaying their Pastures: These three being the grand Mistakes People lie most under, I have endeavoured to persuade them to Reformation therein, which is a quite other Theme, than is usually insisted on by others.  
But before I close, I shall take notice to one Objection, that perhaps may seem of great Moment to many, and yet in Reality is of no force at all; The thing here proposed is very great, viz: That if every one would take such Measures, as easily they may, the Honour, Wealth and Power of the Kingdom, may soon be advanced to the double of what it is at Present; The Means by which so great a Matter is to be accomplished, being so easy and very common, (whereas the Means for prosecuting so great a Work, would be expected to be very wonderful and extraordinar) therefore not such Effect can follow the prosecution of this Project.  
How weak so ever the Means are, to me they seem to prove effectual if followed, and if the Calculation made already, serve not to persuade you to the like thoughts, I must know your Objections before I can satisfy you: But it is not the first time great Things have been accomplished by weak Means, and the less that can be expected from the instrument or Means, there seems to be the more of an Overruling Providence in it; And to tell you my own thoughts, several Providences seem to concur in the prosecution of this Project, viz: The long continuance of the Frost, which doth oblige People to a Compliance (for this year) to one special Point I have proposed: To wit, To take less Ground into Tillage, and keeped in better Condition. And then again by this, a great dale of Seed may be saved, which will come very seasonably this Year: In respect of our-present Scarcity of Grain. And now beside, upon the Conclusion of a Peace, People may apply themselves thereto the more effectually, together with several other Things that I have not Room here to insert.  
FINIS.