ON THE AGRICULTURE OF TUV. COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 0/ 

 Grasses under Rotation, 



It will thus be seen that these two heads absorb G92.'>i acres 

 of tlie increase, leaving only 495^ acres among all the other 

 crojis. The pasture not under regular rotation has by far the 

 largest increase, and in these depressed times it is likely enough 

 that in Sutherland, as in most of tlic other northern counties, 

 the increase in that direction will go a good deal farther. The 

 demand f(jr hay as winter food for sheep is great, and therefore 

 a considerable breadth is assigned to that crop every year. 

 When sown out for hay and grass after green crops, tlie land 

 receives about 30 lbs. of rye grass and 10 lbs. of mixed clovers 

 per acre. A little more of both varieties is given when the land 

 is meant to lie for several years under grass. 



Grreen Crops. 



Turnips. — The following table shows the area under turnips 

 at various dates since 1853 : — 



1853, . 2090| acres. 

 1870, . 2506 „ 



1875, . 2964 acres. 

 1879, . 3232 „ 



Increase since 1853, . . 1141j acres. 



It will be observed that turnips come next to grass under 

 rotation in the rate of increase during the past quarter of a 

 century, and appropriate more than the decrease in both grain 

 crops and potatoes. It has already been shown that turnips 

 play a very important part in the economy of Sutherland ; and 

 tlierefore, as much of the arable land as possible is devoted to 

 them. In some cases their cultivation has been interfered with 

 by that perplexing disease, " finger and toe," which is no doubt, 

 to a certain extent, fostered by the five-shift rotation. As 

 previously stated, IVIr Lawson, Clynelish, has commenced grow- 

 ing them after lea, which has proved as yet a complete pre- 

 ventive of the disease. On new land, on the farm of Melness, 

 on the north coast, the fungus, or whatever it is, attacked the 

 roots so persistently that their cultivation had to be abandoned. 

 Turnips, nevertheless, grow exceedingly well in the county, and 



