68 ON THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHEELAND. 



on the estate of Sir Charles Eoss, Bart, of Bahiagowii, and 

 entered eleven years ago, at a rent of £1400, by Messrs WilHam 

 and James Kennedy, who are also extensive farmers in the 

 comities of Caithness, Inverness, Dumfries, and Kirkcudbright. 

 Extending to about 35,000 acres, this farm consists mostly of 

 black land, a good deal of it lieing liigh-lying, and cold and 

 stormy in winter. A good ewe and wether stock is kept, tups 

 being frequently introduced from Caithness and the south. The 

 sheep on this farm are generally smeared in October and Novem- 

 ber with tar- and butter. Clipping takes place about the end of 

 June and beginning of July, and the ewe fleeces average from 

 'H lbs. to 4 lbs. ; and those from wethers, from 4^ lbs. to 5^ lbs. 

 The hoggs are wintered in the south at a cost of from 8s. to 9s. 

 a head. The cost of wintering has been more than doubled 

 during the past twenty years. In severe winters such as last, 

 hand-feeding has to be resorted to among the old sheep at 

 home. The Messrs Kennedy have expended a considerable 

 sum in repairing shepherds' houses and erecting fences and 

 sheep folds, as also in surface-draining. Each shepheird has 

 charge of from 500 to 600 ewes, or 1000 wethers. 



The new farms in the parish of Lairg have already been 

 referred to. The farm of Dalchork, extending to about 25,000 

 acres, and including 120 arable acres, has been held by Mr 

 A. S. Macdonald since 1871. Part of this farm is very good 

 pasture ; but, on the other hand, there is a large stretch of 

 scarcely any value. Most of it is flat and devoid of shelter. 

 A good ewe and wether stock is kept, a few fresh tups being 

 introduced from other stocks now and again. The old sheep 

 are smeared after the IBtli October. Four gallons of tar are 

 mixed witli 35 ll)s. of butter, and that smears from 30 to 32 

 sheep at a cost of from 8d. to lOd. per head. The lambs are 

 " dipped " before leaving for wintering in the south, and again 

 on returning in spring. Clipping commences about the 12th of 

 June. The hoggs are wintered partly on the arable farms on 

 bhe south-east coast of the county and in Eoss-shire ; the ewe 

 hoggs, when possilde, on grass, and the wether hoggs on turnips. 

 The lean dinmonts and gimmers are also sent to turnips and 

 grass. The cost of wintering these averages close on 10s. a 

 head. Each shepherd herds in summer from 600 to 700 sheep, 

 but in winter, the "hirsels" are reduced by sale and sending 

 away to wintering to about 400 each. Six shepherds are em- 

 ployed on Dalchork. The death-rate ranges from 5 to 10 per 

 cent, per annum. For every 100 lambs speaned, on an average, 

 from 20 to 25 die before being sold as cast ewes or wethers. 

 For every 100 ewes tupped, from 83 to 88 lambs are generally 

 speaned. Tliis year only 47 lambs were weaned for every 100 

 ewes. The Dalchork wethers sold at 43s. this year. The arable 



