50 ON THE AGEICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHEELAXD. 



farms above 20 and imcler 100 acres, 3 ; and of holdings above 

 100 acres, 2. The total acreage of the 2294 holdmgs under 100 

 acres does not exceed 20,000 acres, so that the 44 upwards of 100 

 acres have amongst them over 1,187,000 acres, or an average of 

 close on 27,000 acres each. Had the returns gone further it 

 would, in all probability, have been seen that about thirty tenants 

 hold among them more than nme-tenths of the whole area of the 

 county, or an average of over 36,000 acres each. Sutherland 

 stands fourteenth in Scotland in regard to the total number of 

 holdmgs, fifth in regard to the number of crofters, twelfth in 

 regard to holdings between 5 and 20 acres in extent, twenty- 

 ninth with holdings between 20 and 50 acres, equal "with Kinross 

 for the thirtieth place as regards holchngs between 50 and 

 100 acres, and tliirty-second with holdmgs over 100 acres in 

 extent. 



In the parish of Creich, which has a total valuation of close on 

 £11,000, there are several good arable farms. The largest pro- 

 prietor in this parish, or rather the proprietor having the largest 

 rent-roll, is Mr Evan Charles Sutherland-Walker of Skibo, whose 

 rental in Creich in 1878-79 was £2795 (an increase of £701 

 since 1874-75), and who also ranks in the adjoming parish of 

 Dornoch for £1437 of annual rent. Mr Sutherland-Walker 

 purchased the Skibo estate in 1872 at £130,000. At that time 

 the property was in a somewhat neglected condition, and the 

 present proprietor has expended more than it has yielded by 

 bringmg it into thoroughly good order. He has erected several 

 new buildings, constructed new roads, and erected a large stretch 

 of wire fencing with iron strainers and larch posts. Formerly 

 the tenants were allowed to crop as they pleased (if they did not 

 take two grain crops in succession) up till within five years of 

 the expiry of their leases, when they were bound to farm in a 

 five-course sliift; but INIr Sutherland-Walker has, in liis new 

 leases, turned them all into the five-shift rotation. The general 

 character of the farming on this estate has improved consider- 

 ably during recent years, the exertions of the present proprietor 

 ha\ing been admirably backed up by the tenants, who have 

 worked hard to improve the condition of their land and houses. 

 The rental of the arable land over the Skibo estate is on an 

 average about 20s. per acre, the soil being generally light sandy 

 loam. On this estate there are about a dozen tenants paying 

 over £50 of rent, and about 150 crofters paying under £20 eacli. 

 The farms are all well supplied with servants' cottages. One of 

 the largest farms on the Skibo estate is Overskibo, in the parish 

 of Dornoch, extending to 175 acres arable and 80 acres of heath, 

 rented at £210, and tenanted by Mr George Forbef?. The soil on 

 the most of this farm is black loam, but in part of it there is 

 stiff clay. Barley yields from 4i to 5 qrs. per acre, and weighs 



