THE COUNTIES OF FORFAR AND KINCARDINE. 12? 



to be very irregular. This year as much as £27, 10s. per ton was 

 obtained, and it is stated that occasionally the yield will reach 

 close on 2 tons per acre. The labour bill, of course, must be a 

 pretty heavy one. Around Banchory and elsewhere on Deeside 

 there are smaller patches of land devoted to the i:aising of straw- 

 berries. The granite soil and dry climate seem to suit them 

 admirably. 



Rent, Leases, Rotation, Size of Farms. 



Rent. — The rent of arable land varies with soil, climate, and 

 situation, and as we have already seen there is great variety in 

 these respects, in both Forfar and Kincardine. ISTear Dundee, 

 it is as high as 120s. per acre, from 80s. to 100s. being general 

 in that district. A few miles along the coast northwards it falls 

 to about 60s., and then to from 40s. to 50&. Here and there 

 along the coast there is a farm rented at about 35s. per acre, but 

 all the better land reaches or exceeds 40s. On the slopes of the 

 Sidlaw hills rent ranges from 20s. to 28s. per acre, a few farms 

 being even higher and some lower. Throughout the valley of 

 Strathmore it varies from 30s. to 50s. per acre, 38s. and 42s. 

 being the most general figures for pretty good land ; the average 

 all over the vale would not exceed 35s. per acre. On the Braes 

 of Angus it runs from 18s. or 20s. to 35s. or 38s., the average 

 being under 28s. Around Brechin and on the north-eastern 

 corner of the county, it varies from 30s. to 42s. per acre. In 

 Kincardineshire rents are considerably lower, only small portions 

 of the land here being rented for wheat and potatoes. Some of 

 the best land in St Cyrus is rented at close on GOs., a good deal 

 of it being over 40s. Along the coast between Bervie and 

 Montrose it rano;es from 28s. to 50s., the avera^^je beino: under 

 30s. On the Garvock slopes it varies from 18s. to 30s. ; in the 

 Howe of the Mearns from 28s. to 45s., the averaj^e bein^ 30s. to 

 33s. ; on the slopes lying up to the Grampians from 20s. to 25s.; 

 in Glenbervie, Kinnefl* Dunnottar, and Fetteresso, from 20s. to 

 30s., some farms being over 30,s., and a few as low as 15s.; 

 between Stoneliaven to Aberdeen, from 20s. to 48s. ; in Mary- 

 culter, Durris, Drumoak, and Banchory-Ternan, from 20s. to 

 38s., the general run being from 25s. to 30s. ; and in Strachan 

 from 15s. to 30s. ; the average being 22s. or 24s. per acre. The 

 increase since 1855 also varies greatly in difi'erent i)arts of the 

 two counties. Near large towns the increase has perhaps not 

 exceeded 12 ])er cent. ; but in other parts wliere extensive 

 improvements have been etlected, it has amounted to 30 per 

 cent, or more. The average increase in the two counties is as 

 nearly as possil)le equal, and may be safely put at from 20 to 25 

 per cent. There is mucli spocnlation at present as to whether 



