66 ON THE AGPJCULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 



would thus appear from the Eeturns to have been a loss among 

 the older sheep of only 3634. In reality, however, it was at 

 least four times that number, perhaps not under 15,000. 



General Notes 07i Sheep Grctzings. 



Before indicating the general system of management pursued, 

 a few hvirried notes may be given regarding some of the larger 

 individual holdmgs. To save repetition it may be stated here, 

 in a word, that the sheep stock of the county consists almost 

 exclusively of Cheviots. Where other breeds are kept, they 

 will be specified. The Duke of Sutherland is himself an ex- 

 tensive sheep-farmer. As already stated, he holds the farm of 

 Shiness, which carries an excellent stock of 2000 sheep, and is 

 assessed on £500. At Wliitsunday last he took over from the 

 representatives of the late Mr Bateson the small farm of Cam- 

 bu^more, which carries about 500 head, and has 95 acres of 

 arable land attached. From Captain Houston His Grace took 

 over the large farm of Kinbrace, extending to about 30,000 

 acres, when the land reclamations commenced. It is rented at 

 £990, and formerly carried about 5000 head. The Shiness 

 wethers brought 44s. this year, and the cast ewes 31s. The 

 Hon. the Master of Blantyre, the Duke of Sutherland's nephew, 

 is now one of the most extensive sheep-farmers in the north of 

 Scotland. He holds the pastoral farm of Sciberscross, extending 

 to about 39,000 acres, and the arable farms of ColaboU and 

 Achnanearain at Lairg, measuring respectively, exclusive of 

 outrun, 346 and 330 acres. He entered the first-named farm 

 in 1875, and the other two m 1876. Sciberscross carries about 

 6000 sheep, and is rented at £1390. The Lairg farms winter 

 about 2200 hoggs, and are rented at £500. The Master of 

 Blantyre has three " liirsels " of blackfaced sheep. He has had 

 two years' experience of them, and he finds them hardier and 

 better able to withstand the wmter than the Cheviots. Their 

 advantage is specially noticeable at lambing time. He finds 

 that the storm that would kill a Cheviot lamb would hardly 

 affect a blackfaced lamb. He is of opinion that the Suther- 

 land grazings would carry a third more blackfaced sheep than 

 Cheviots, and that the greater part of the county will yet be 

 covered with the former instead of the latter. He says that, 

 owing to the climate seemingly becoming more severe, the 

 mossing or cotton plant is fast disappearing ; the difficulties to 

 contend with as to heather burning ; the old townships or green 

 patches getting "fogged" and overgrown with heather, it is 

 impossible to maintain as good a class of Cheviot sheep as was 

 reared some years ago. He finds the wintering of his hoggs 

 adds fully a second rent to his grazing land. He winters the 



