72 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 



around the dwelling-house at a cost of several hundred pounds. 

 In all, on these improvements, Mr Purves has liimself expended 

 considerably over £2000, including carting materials for build- 

 ings. During liis occupancy he has twice surface-drained liis 

 farm at a cost of over £500, built a good many sheep "stells" 

 for shelter, and sown a great extent of whins. He at one tune 

 grazed about 80 Highland cattle. He has none at present, 

 but intends bringino; in about 40 stirks to consume the straw 

 and make manure. To make up the deficiency caused in his 

 stock by the severe winter of 1859-60, Mr Purves tried a few 

 hundred blackfaced sheep, but they turned out badly. The 

 ground, he says, is too flat and soft for them, and he had great 

 loss among them from drowning and other accidents. On some 

 " pining " ground on the farm, six of the blackfaced sheep were 

 affected for every Cheviot that suffers. Those that survived 

 grew into very good sheep. The other larger farms in tliis parish 

 are Clebrig, occupied by Messrs Marshall and Scott ; Skelpick, by 

 Mr Donald Mackay ; and Armadale, by Mr W. J. Patterson. At 

 Skelpick, about 100 acres of land have been reclaimed at a 

 similar cost, and under similar conditions as the land at Eliifail. 

 The Clebrig wethers brought 39s, this year (1879), or 4s. below 

 the price obtamed last year. 



The farm of Pdbigill, rented by MrWilHam Mitchell at £1465, 

 is the largest holchng in the parish of Tongue, and one of the 

 best managed in the county. Eibigill extends to about 30,000 

 acres, and along with it Mr Mitchell holds the farm of Pulrossie, 

 containing 400 acres arable, and 140 acres of wood pasture. Mr 

 Mitchell has occupied the former for eighteen years, and the 

 latter for eleven years. The pasture of Eibigill is fully equal to 

 the average of the north and west of Sutherland, there being a 

 good deal of green land on it. It is, however, subject to severe 

 snowstorms in winter and sprmg. On Pulrossie the soil is partly 

 good sharp loam and partly poor clay. It grows turnips better 

 than any other crop. A very fine ewe and wether stock is 

 kept on Eibigill. Mr Mitchell buys in to keep up liis wether 

 stock, and for the last few years has had to buy ewe lambs 

 and hoggs. These he generally obtains in the Mmr of Ord 

 market. He frequently introduces tups from the best stocks 

 in the country, such as those of Hmdhope, Kirkhill, and Arch- 

 bank. Mating these with a few select ewes, he rears a class 

 of tups for himself that produce excellent lambs. His sheep are 

 dipped twice a-year with castor oil and tobacco, a little arsenic 

 being generally added. Castor oil is only used once a year. 

 He also uses Martin's dip. The cost of the -winter's dip is about 

 3d. per head, and that for the summer. Id. The clipping takes 

 place between the 10th and 30th of June. Hoggs and lean sheep 

 of all other ages are wintered on arable land, while a few of the 



