121 ox THE AGRICULTURE OF 



acres are in Kincardinesliire, the remainder being in the county 

 of Aberdeen. Banchory-Ternan contains 1^,256 acres, and yields 

 a rental of £1409. The increase since 1855 amounts to £5259, 

 or more than 5s. per acre of the total extent. The rent of this 

 parish is largely swelled by the growing village of Banchory ; 

 while the average rate per acre is greatly decreased by a large 

 area of uncultivated land. The principal estate in these 

 parishes is that of Leys, owned by Sir Kobert Burnett, Bart, of 

 Crathes. This fine property extends to 12,105 acres — 5200 

 under cultivation ; 3509 (including the Hill of Fair, which 

 extends to about 1700 acres, and is mostly covered by heath) 

 under natural pasture ; 211 of moss ; and 3000 acres under 

 wood ; roads, &c., taking up 155 acres. The average rent of the 

 arable land is about 18s, or 20s. per acre, the increase on the 

 estate since 1855 being about £1100. Since 1850 very exten- 

 sive improvements have been carried out on this property, all 

 under the close and careful superintendence of the intelligent 

 and practical proprietor and Mr John Davidson, North Leys, the 

 factor on the estate. Between 600 and 700 acres of land have 

 been reclaimed, partly by trenching and partly by ploughing, 

 the cost, including draining and other work, being about £15 per 

 acre. This work has been proceeding constantly during the past 

 thirty years, so much being done every year. In the same way 

 about 1500 acres have been planted, at a cost of about £3, 5s. 

 per acre, exclusive of fencing and the clearing away of broom 

 and whins, &c. ; while on building throughout the estate about 

 £700 has been spent yearly since 1850, including carriages, 

 which were all performed by the tenants. The yearly ex- 

 penditure during this period on fencing has been about £120, 

 and on draining £180. The total expenditure on road making 

 since 1850 has been about £150. In addition to the land 

 reclaimed by the proprietor, since 1850 the tenants have 

 reclaimed about 400 acres, mostly by ploughing, but partly 

 also by trenching. The houses on the property are as a rule 

 very good, and the land is fairly well fenced, mostly by good 

 stone dykes. The soil is partly sandy, on a gravelly subsoil, and 

 partly light loam, with a subsoil of clay and sand. On the 

 higher portions there is a good deal of moss. The five and six 

 shift rotations are pursued, the latter being now the most 

 general. The farms vary greatly in size. There are six of 200 

 acres and upwards, sixteen between 100 and 200, and thirty-five 

 between 40 and 100 acres. In addition, there are sixty crofts on 

 the estate, ranging from 5 to 30 acres in extent, some being held, 

 like the farms, under nineteen years' lease, and some under ten 

 years' lease. As a rule the crofters pay higher rents than the 

 farmers, the average on the crofts being about 24s. per acre. 

 The cattle bred and fed on the estate are mostly crosses between 



