ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 37 



detached from the j)l()iigli and iixed ou these roots, and thus tliey 

 were torn from their mossy beds with marvellous despatcli. In 

 this operation extraordinary masses of earth were sometinies 

 moved. Tn cases where it was found more convenient, dynamite 

 was used in dislod,uin<;' these roots, which were very numerous in 

 some parts; and tliey were hauled by steam to the edge of the 

 field or section on a huge platform, slia|)('d like a sledge, about 

 24 feet long l)y 12 feet wide. When dry and cut up they made 

 excellent fu(d for the engines, aiul were largely used for that 

 purpose. Another still more novel process wag the removal of 

 living trees by steam. Along the ridge of the tract of land 

 reclaimed there wefe patches (jf dwarf mountain ash and birch, 

 and one of the n^any happy ideas hit upon in connection with 

 the works was the removing of these trees by steam. Short 

 lengths of chains were cast round the trunks of three, four, or five 

 or more trees, attached to each other and finally secured to the 

 rope of an engine which stood near, and thus four or five trees 

 were pulled up at a time with as much ease as a man would pull a 

 turnip. One great advantage ii^ this system is, that most of the 

 roots are torn up along with the trees. On the more mossy 

 parts the drains were cut to an average depth of 4 feet, and tiles, 

 made at the Duke's own tile-works at Brora, were laid on deals 

 of W(X)d. In the drier and harder parts the drains ranged from 

 3^ to 4 feet in depth, and were formed of stones, which were 

 conveniently obtained, as the land in these parts was ploughed 

 before being drained. The stones remaining on the surface of 

 the ploughed land, after the drains had been formed, were 

 removed on sledges -worked backwards and forwards between 

 two engines on the same principle as the plough. AVlien the 

 loaded sledge had come to a standstill at the edge, the engine at 

 the other si(le of the section was set in motion, tilting the sledge 

 overhead, relieving it of its load, and pulling it back to where 

 the men waited to reload it. Having thus been plouglied, 

 drained, and cleared of stones and roots, the land, which had 

 perhaps lain in the furrow over a winter, was thoroughly 

 " made," and prepared for cropping by rank harrows worked by 

 steam similarly to the plough and sledges. Fences and farm 

 buildings were then constructed, generally in accordance with 

 the reconnnendations of Mr Murray, the houses being com- 

 modious and substantial. 



How the New Zand has been, Laid Out and .Employed. — As 

 has been seen, the extent which Mr ]\Iurray proposed to 

 reclaim at Lairg has been exceeded by 654 acres. The 

 scheme of division which he originally recommended has also 

 been in some degree departed from. The 1829 acres re- 

 claimed at Lairg, exclusive of the land taken in on the 

 farm of Dalchork, have been divided as follows, the extent 



