ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 35 



l.'iiul and Agricultural Society's Sliow at Inverness in 1874, the 

 Society, in compliance with an invitation from tlic Duke of 

 Hutherlaiul, sent a de})utation to visit the reclamations. The 

 deputation were conveyetl from Inverness to Lairg and back by 

 special train, and conducted over the works by His Grace, Mr 

 Murray of Geanies, and Mr David Greig (of Messrs F(jwler 

 & Co.). A very large number of farmers and others availed 

 themselves of the opportunity thus afforded of visiting works 

 which had, even previous to 1874, earned the reputation (jf being 

 the most gigantic of the kind vvw undertaken in the United 

 Kingdom ; and whatever may have been the opinion entertained 

 of llic «[uality of tlu>. work accom])lished by the machinery as it 

 then existed, utter astonishment was the one feeling expressed 

 as to the magnitude and novelty of the undertaking. The writer 

 visited Lairg several times during the progress of the reclama- 

 tions, and was therefore able to note the advances made in tlie 

 quality of the work done, and in the efficiency of the implements. 

 The improvement effected on the implements in the course of 

 the first two years was really marvellous. At the outset the 

 work was often tedious and disheartening, breakages having been 

 of frequent occurrence, but the first two years saw almost all 

 these overcome, and a point towards perfection reached which 

 could have been attained only by distinguished skill backed up 

 by long patience, indomitable perseverance, and great expense. 

 One instance may be given to show the tlioroughly satisfactory 

 condition into which the implements had been brought during 

 the first two years. Towards the end of 1874 two powerful 

 engines were placed upon a section of rough heath and bent- 

 covered land extending to 60 acres, aiul before leaving it the 

 following spring they converted it into a well-prepared bed for 

 grain and grass seeds, which in fact they also covered by the 

 harrow and roller. 



It should be mentioned that j\Ir Kenneth Murray continued to 

 superintend the works up till his death in July 187G, which was 

 lamented alike by the rich and the poor, for, by all with whom 

 he ever came into contact, he was looked up to and respected, 

 even beloved. On an elevated spot overlooking the new land a 

 handsome monument was erected to his memory by His (h'ace 

 the Duke of Sutherland. Designed by Mr William Fowler, the 

 Duke's architect at Golspie, and erected under his superintend- 

 ence, the monument is in the form of an obelisk about 30 feet in 

 heiglit, the liase being formed of three rows of large rough 

 Itoulders taken from the reclaimed land, and the monument 

 proper of dressed freestone from Dunrobin quarries. On one 

 side there is the follo^\'ing inscription : — 



