"It would require more hands to manage a stock of sheep, gather them from the hills, force them into houses and folds, and drive them to markets, than the profits of the whole stock were capable of maintaining"

In this quote, James Hogg is highlighting the difficulty and labor-intensive nature of managing a stock of sheep. He explains that it would require a substantial variety of hands to manage tasks such as gathering the sheep from the hills, herding them into shelters, and transferring them to markets. This would be a time-consuming and physically demanding procedure. Hogg also discusses that the make money from the sheep would not be enough to sustain the expenses of handling them. This highlights the tough and possibly unprofitable nature of sheep farming. Overall, Hogg's words convey the concept that handling a stock of sheep is a demanding and financially dangerous endeavor.