82 ON THE AGKICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 



sufficient extent of green land to afford foggage, to enable the 

 lots to mix with the heather a bite of softer grass. No break 

 having come in the storm, and as the snow became boimd with 

 frost, box-feeding was commenced at the end of the month. 

 The flocks were reduced to lots of from 200 or 300 head; and each 

 animal got per day ^ lb. bruised oats and ^ lb. bran, with 24 lbs. 

 of hay to the score. This feeding was continued till May, or 

 for nearly five months. When the ewes became pretty heavy 

 with lamb, ^ lb. of linseed cake was substituted for the -| lb. of 

 bran. Such heavy feeding necessarily entailed a heavy outlay, 

 but at weaning time the crop of lambs nmnbered about 90 for 

 €very 100 ewes. Without the box-feeding, there would have 

 at least been 40 i)er cent, fewer lambs ; and the cost of the 

 feeding would not perhaps have done much more than make 

 up the crop to 90 per cent. Then the advantage of having 

 lambs of Ms own breeding, and of having his older sheep 

 lirought through the winter in good condition, is of considerable 

 iiccount. 



Profits now and Twenty-five Years ago. 



During the first twenty-four years of improved sheep-farming 

 in Sutherland, or between 1806 and 1830, the tenants had to 

 face many stubborn difficulties, and met wth several serious 

 reverses of fortune. Some were ruined, and, at one time, none 

 in the Eeay district of the county were able to pay their rents, 

 wliich in several cases were reduced, by the Marquis of Stafford, 

 to the extent of 48 per cent. The re\'ival of trade about 1832, 

 however, made the industry much more lucrative, and most of 

 the original pioneer tenants became men of means, while a few 

 may even be said to have amassed moderate fortunes. But such 

 fortunes are evidently not in store for the present race of occupiers. 

 Indeed, it would seem that the tide has turned somewhat against 

 them, and that Sutherland sheep-farming has reached what 

 threatens to be a turning-point in its history. Perhaps, on the 

 whole, though not nearly so lucrative as at some former periods, 

 the industry was fairly remunerative to the present tenants up till 

 1874. It is generally estimated, indeed, to have yielded from 5 

 to 10 per cent, on the capital invested. But, during the past five 

 years, not only has there been little or no profit even on the 

 cheapest farms, but on the majority there has been considerable 

 actual loss. No doubt, the actual loss of later years is due 

 mainly to excessively bad seasons, which may not again be 

 experienced in such terrible severity for many years. It is 

 asserted, however, that, leaving bad seasons out of calculation, 

 Sutherland sheep-farming in its present condition cannot be 

 expected to yield even moderate interest for the money investecl 

 in it. In support of that statement, it is pointed out that the 



