ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTTIERLAND. 39 



troubled with mildew. On dry land, turnips ha^'e always been 

 an excellent crop, and the average yield of potatoes is about 

 equal to that of the ctninty generally. I'or oat crops from 2 

 to o cwts. of superphosphate of lime are given per acre, while 

 for turnips, about 2 cwt. of superphosphate, 2 cwt. dissolved 

 Ijones, and 1^ cwt. Peruvian guano, or some similar commodity, 

 is allowed, along with 20 loads of farm-yard manure. It may 

 l)e mentioned that the tirst crop grown on the land was oats, 

 and that it was sown out into pasture in scnue cases, and in 

 others not. Having been previously cleared of stones, and 

 " made " on the surface, the land was all heavily limed, manured 

 with about 4 cwt. of superphosphate, and 1 cwt. of kanit of salt 

 per acre, or with some similar mixture, and then sown with oats 

 towards the end of April or beginning of May, the stiffer looking 

 parts being afterwards top dressed with nitrate of soda. 



Tbe new farms have been found to be very healthy for stock. 

 On Shiness farm there is a permanent stock of Cheviot slieep, 

 consisting of ewes and wethers, and lately they have been selling 

 at high prices — the wethers tliis year (1879) at 44s. each, and 

 the ewes last year at o9s. 6d. each. The (jthcr farms are intonded 

 for wintering hoggs, and they suit this purpose admirably, haWng 

 kept 2500 hoggs of the best class during last winter (1878-79) in 

 excellent condition. This year 3000 hoggs have been sent for the 

 winter on the farms of Colaboll and Achnanearain, Achadaphris, 

 and Lubvrec. Last winter, in addition to the numl)er of liocffTs 

 mentioned, Achadaphris fed 24 cross cattle, and kept 50 High- 

 land cattle in " store " condition ; Shiness wintered 70 store 

 cattle and 12 Highland ponies ; while Lubvrec fattened 22 polled 

 cattle, and wintered 40 store cattle — all good heavy animals, 

 which were sold at from £20 to £26 each. The feedimr cattle 

 got an allowance of about 4 lbs. each per day of bruised oats and 

 linseed cake, but the store cattle were kept solely on turnips and 

 straw, being allowed to run out daily upon the rough land. 



In some cases it has been found necessary to re-drain the land, 

 the original drams having in some way or other failed to work 

 satisfactorily. As yet, too, the land has to be cultivated with 

 great care. It is not old enough to be thoroughly "made." 

 When much of the sod is turned up it gets dried, and becomes 

 troublesome. No weeds as yet, however, have found their way 

 into the land, and the green crops can therefore be laid down 

 more cheaply than in old land. The land seems to suit grasses 

 admirably, and in good seasons they grow luxuriantly. 



The education and spiritual wants of the newl}- formed arable 

 district have not been overlooked by the Duke. A substantial 

 school was built by him in the centre of the reclaimed land, and 

 the attendance of children, which is annually increasing, numbers 

 from 50 to 70. A male teacher is employed, and the school has 



