ON THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 



(including railways and the royal burgh of Dornoch), is equal 

 to only about Is. 7d. per acre — the lowest by far of any of the 

 Scotch counties. Limited, however, as is its arable area, Suther- 

 land has, in regard to the system of management pursued on 

 most of its farms, pushed itself, with commendaljle spirit, fully 

 abreast of the times. Indeed, on the larger and better arable 

 farms of Sutherland, the modern and improved systems of farm- 

 ing are carried out with as much success and perfection as in 

 the Lothians, or in any of the other better favoured regions of 

 Scotland. The wealth and rej)utation, however, of Sutherland 

 lies chiefly in its sheep farming, for which its long-winding 

 straths and wide mountain ranges are admirably adapted ; and 

 which is carried on, not only on a very extensive scale, but also 

 in a most advanced, systematic, and successful manner. 



As shall be afterwards shown, Sutherland was the last county 

 in Scotland to be opened up, as it were, to free intercourse with 

 the outer world. Indeed, up to the commencement of the pre- 

 sent century, it may be said to have been locked up by water 

 and mountain. But now, both internally and with the world 

 iDcyond, it enjoys ample means of communication. By the 

 liberality and enterprise of the Duke of Sutherland, the High- 

 land Eailway was extended to Golspie in 1868, and to Helms- 

 dale three years later ; while in 1874 the same line was 

 continued to Wick and Thurso. The active laudable interest 

 His Grace has taken in the conferring of the inestimable boon 

 of a railway system on the Highlands of Scotland is well testi- 

 fied by his contributions towards that object, which are stated 

 at £301,000. The line from Bonar Bridge to Golspie cost him 

 £116,000, and from Golspie to Helmsdale, £60,000, while he 

 contributed other £60,000 towards the extension of the system 

 to Caithness. It is worthy of mention, that in the formation of 

 the line from Golspie to Helmsdale, the Duke acted as his own 

 contractor, the work having been carried out under his own per- 

 sonal supervision. 



Population, 

 The following table shows the population at various periods 



