6 ox THE AGRICULTURE OF 



raises splendid potatoes for the early markets. This eastern side 

 of the island is much more wooded than the western, and alto- 

 gether presents a more pleasing appearance. 



The principal proprietor in Bute is The Most Noble the 

 Marquis of Bute, K.T. Mr Thomas Eussell owns the estate of 

 Ascog ; a portion of the island belongs to the burgh of Eothesay, 

 and there are also one or two other smaller proprietors. There 

 are few parts of Scotland in which the relationships of landlord 

 and tenant are so creditable and pleasant. Since the noble 

 family of Stuart obtained possession of the island in 1318, Bute 

 has ever been a favourite residence of the representatives of the 

 house. 



It was stated by the present bearer of the title, wdien fourteen 

 years of age, that his desire w^as that all his tenants should 

 sit easy, and in every instance when it has been necessary 

 for his desires to be consulted, the same spirit of anxious solici- 

 tude for the c^ood of his tenantrv has shown itself. The widows 

 of farmers who have proved themselves unequal to the task 

 of managing their husband's businesses have been invariably 

 pensioned, and it has been a rule of the estate for many years 

 that on expiry of leases no farms should be advertised unless the 

 tenant wishes to quit. All draining for the last eighteen years has 

 been executed at the landlord's expense, the tenant paying 5 per 

 cent, on his outlav. The steadings on the island are commodious 

 and in excellent repair, in which state they are maintained by 

 the landlord. Old tenants invariably have the first offer of 

 farms to let, and no farm is ever offered to the public unless the 

 former tenant is retiring from the business. On formally 

 requesting it, permission is given to all tenants to trap or snare 

 rabbits on their holdings. 



Besides treating their tenantry in this liberal manner, the 

 landowners in Bute have done much in the way of presenting 

 gifts to, and carrying out works of utility and interest in, the 

 burgh of Eothesay, to make that favourite watering-place even 

 more popular than it has been, and of course the greater the 

 number of visitors to Eothesay the brisker the demand for dairy 

 produce. The Marquis has renovated the old castle of Eothesay 

 at great expense, and the munificent gifts to the burgh of the 

 late A. B. Stew^art of Ascog Hall, and of Thomas Eussell of Ascog, 

 should not be forgotten by those who derive considerable benefit 

 from the great influx of Glasgow visitors during summer. 



In addition to many other premiums a grant of £20 is annu- 

 ally made to the funds of the Farmers' Society out of the 

 exchequer of the Bute estate office, and for several years, through 

 the instrumentality of the late Mr Henry Stuart, a silver 

 cup was competed for, which was eventually to become the pro- 

 perty of the tenant on the Bute estate who should twice be 



