430 REPORT ON THE RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND. 



and, as will be shown, the improvement of 260 acres additional 

 is in progress, which will make 685 acres arable, 65 acres under 

 small tenants, 129 acres sandy solum of loch, and 935 acres of 

 hill pasture, surface drained, and carrying a stock of Cheviot 

 ewes. The arable land falls to the S.E. and S.W., which is a 

 good exposure ; but, un fortunately, the estate was bounded on the 

 south by flow-moss, on the east by the Loch of Syster, and on the 

 west by the Loch of Hallan. The cold of the wind from the 

 north is always intense, and it could not blow over the estate 

 from any other " airt " without carrying cold vapour along with 

 it from either of the lochs, or from the flow-moss. The wind 

 prevails from E. back to S.W. The cold from the N.E. over 

 Syster Loch was so severe that turnip sheep could not be pre- 

 vented from stiffening, or taking chronic rheumatism in their 

 joints, in spring. The cattle of the small tenants next the loch 

 also often stiffen, and one of them lost a cow by it in 1864. The 

 crops on the estate were always a week or ten days later than 

 on neighbouring farms, which was caused to a certain extent 

 by the cold referred to. In fact, it appeared desirable, for the 

 amenity and benefit of the estate in every respect, to have the 

 loch drained. The water of the loch was forrneiiy';kept up for sup- 

 plying Syster mill. The mill was taken down at the last tenant's 

 out-going in 1865, and as the loch was the sole property of the 

 estate there was no prohibition on its drainage. The proprietor 

 allowed the water to be cut off after the nature of the solum was 

 ascertained, the levels taken, and expense calculated, and the 

 loch was run dry in 1866 at a cost of L.84, whereby 269 acres 

 of solum have been exposed, over 150 acres of which are mud, 

 and will make first-class arable land when underdrained and 

 thoroughly azotised, and the remainder being sand will become 

 good and sound pasture for sheep. Since the solum has been 

 exposed and its value ascertained, the proprietor has obtained a 

 loan of L.1500, sanctioned by the Drainage Commissioners, for the 

 under- drainage and reclamation of 150 acres of the loch's solum, 

 and for the drainage of 110 acres of townlands and waste ground 

 still unimproved on Syster. The lease of the estate has been 

 extended to nineteen years from Whitsunday 1867, the reporter 

 being bound to pay the interest charged on the drainage loan, 

 and to expend L.400 of his own capital on enclosures, making- 

 roads of access, &c. When this reclamation is executed the 

 improvement of the estate will be complete, and there cannot be 

 a doubt of the ultimate advantage thereof to the property, 

 whether it pays the reporter or not. Triptolemus Yellowley 

 propounded true experience when he declared that " the carles 

 an' cart avers mak' it a', an' the carles an' cart avers eat it a' ; so 

 that improvers dinna get rich." 



Eeference is made to the extended improvement now in pro- 



