130 



ox THE AGR [CULTURE OF 



second time under oats, sixth turnips, and seventh barley with 

 grass seeds. Throughout both counties the five-course rotation 

 is less popular than formerly, and many farmers are giving it 

 up in favour of the six shifts which introduces a third year's 

 grass. The latter lessens not only the labour and manure bills, 

 but also, it would seem, the risk of damage by " finger and toe." 

 If the land could be made to carry grass fairly well for three 

 years, it is pretty evident that all the thinner varieties of soil, 

 if not indeed also all medium soils, would be more profitable 

 under the six than under the five-shift rotation. 



Size of Farms. — Taken as a whole, these two counties are 

 fairly well apportioned into large, medium, and small farms and 

 crofts. In some districts, however, more particularly in the 

 richer parts, there is a scarcity of crofts and small farms ; while 

 in others, usually on the poorer soils, there are rather too many 

 holdings ranging from 20 to 40 acres. These latter holdings 

 are somewhat large to be worked in twos by one pair of horses, 

 and too small to be laboured singly with full advantage. Crofts 

 and small farms are the best possible nurseries of farm labourers, 

 and a scarcity of these holdings is therefore a misfortune to a 

 district. The following tables show the number of holdings of 

 various sizes in both counties : — 



The holdings under 50 acres were stated in 1870 to number 

 1399 in Forfar, and 1210 in Kincardine; while in that year 

 these were classed as follows : — 



In Forfar, in 1875, the percentage of holdings under 20 acres 

 in extent was 41; above 20 and under 100 acres, 27 ; and above 

 XOO acres 32. In Kincardine the corresponding figures were 



