ON THE AGllICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF KUTHERLAXD. 21 



among the sniuUur tenants, the well-known old basket cart 

 was still in general use. Its cost was from 20s. to 25s. Fuel, 

 manure, and other commodities were also sometimes conveyed 

 in baskets attaclied to a clubber or saddle, on horseback. Only 

 one threshing mill is spoken of as being in the county (at Mid- 

 garty) in 18U8, and very few even of the larger farmers could 

 boast of a winnowmg machine. 



Captain Henderson states, that "along the coast side of 

 Sutherhiud the more opulent farmers plough their land with a 

 pair of horses without a driver, and in some cases with four oxen 

 abreast, with a driver. The smaller tenants, both along the 

 coast and in the interior of the county, use four small garrons 

 (horses) abreast in their plougli, or perhaps two small ponies 

 and two cows, all abreast, with a driver ; and in cases where 

 their lots are small, two of them join and furnish two ponies 

 each, and plough their land jointly, the one 'holding' and the 

 other ' driving.' These people have their land all in crooked 

 ridges, broad in the middle and narrow at each end, in the shape 

 of an S , filial ii green bank or cairn of stones between every two 

 or three ridges. The course of cropping pursued on the south- 

 east coast was, as a rule, first, pease or potatoes ; second, here or 

 big, manured with ware or seaweed or farm yard dung ; third, 

 oats, and then pease, &c., again." Bere and oats were grown 

 alternately in the interior and western districts, the former 

 being as a rule sown in lazy beds with abundance of manure, 

 which secured from 10 to 14 returns. Oats and rye were some- 

 times sown together, generally on land in poor condition, and 

 the mixed grain was manufactured into a sort of coarse meal. 

 A little wheat had been grown on the better farms on the south- 

 east coast, chiefly at Dunrobin and Skibo, and it is said to have 

 yielded from 8 to 10 bolls per acre; but Captain Henderson 

 states, that " owing to distance from markets, ; the variable 

 climate, and want of manure, the culture of it was given up." 

 Bere gave from 4 to 7 bolls per acre, oats about 5 bolls, and 

 pease from 5 to 6 bolls. During the first ten years of the pre- 

 sent century, turnips were on their probation in Sutherland. 

 Only a few small patches were grown by some gentlemen 

 farmers, but they stood their trial well, and soon increased in 

 popularity : tlie white and red top varieties were first sowti. 

 Potatoes played a very important part in the economy of 

 Sutherland in tliese olden tunes. ]\Iore than 1500 Scotch acres 

 were planted with them every year, and they formed a very 

 large part of the food of the inhabitants. The yield varied from 

 IG to 20 l)olls per acre ; and, in a favourable year, the quality 

 was excellent. Only on a few farms on the south-east coast 

 were artificial grasses sown, and these were clover and rye 

 grass. The Argyle or West Highland breed of cattle had been 



