ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 5:> 



fivc-sliit't rotutiuu, aiiel most liberally iiiiunufd, tlie I'aiiu yields 

 most excellent crops of oats, usually 5 qrs. per acre, weighing 

 42 lbs. to 44 lbs. per bushel. Barley does not turn out so satis- 

 factorily, seldom reaching 4 cp's. per acre and 54 lbs. per bushel. 

 A little wlieat is usiuilly sown after ])otatoes and grows well, 

 yieldhig from 3 to 5 qrs. per acre. A small field of potatoes 

 has liccn tried in the last few 3'ears, and llicy lia\'e given a 

 very fair return, sometimes ."'O bolls per acre. A commodious, 

 convenient, and substantial steading was built about twenty 

 years a<jjo, and increased shedding acconnnodation for cattle has 

 been recently erected. From 120 to 150 Caithness-bred cattle 

 are fed off annually at three years old ; one-half of the turnip 

 cro]! going to them, and. the other half being consumed on the 

 land by feeding sheep. The adjoining farm of Kirkton, rented 

 by Mrs Murray at £368, is worked in a similar manner, and 

 yields fair crops. There are several other very desirable smaller 

 arable, i'arms in this parish, mostly all carefully and liberally 

 farmed. 



In the Brora district, in the ])arish of Clyne, there is a con- 

 siderable extent of arable land, held chiefly in small holdings. 

 Along with Clynelish Distillery, Mr George Lawson holds a 

 well laid-ofi' liberally-managed farm of 285 acres. It has, till 

 recently, been all regularly worked on the five-shift rotation, 

 but the most of it is now being laid down in pasture ; while, 

 with the view of avoiding " finger and toe," the turnips are 

 being grown after grass. As yet the experiment has been most 

 successful, and excellent crops are raised. A number of Aber- 

 deen and Angus polled cattle were introduced by Mr liawson a 

 few years ago, and they are doing exceedingly well. The stead- 

 ing on this farm has few equals in the north of Scotland. One 

 of the finest arable farms in the county is Crakaig, in the parish 

 of Loth, and rented along with Lothbeg by Mv John B. Dudgeon 

 at £712, 10s. As previously stated, part of Crakaig was re- 

 claimed many years ago from a sort of lake ; and, consisting as 

 it mostly does of rich loamy clay, and being liberally treated, 

 it produces heavy crops of wheat and oats, and a fair yield of 

 barley. Potatoes and turnips also grow well. There is a good 

 steading on this farm, and Mr Dudgeon feeds a good many 

 cattle, chiefly Caithness crosses or crosses of his own rearing. 

 The newly-reclaimed farms at Lairg have already been noticed. 

 It is perhaps not desirable to occupy space by referring to more 

 individual aral)le holdings. 



Leases, Rent, nnd Botation. 



Leases. — There is little variety in the duration of leases in 

 this county, nineteen years being the general term. All farmei-s 



