4 



THE COUNTIES OF FORFAR AND KIXCAEDIXE. Ill 



greatly exceeded, but as an average they are not far wrong. On 

 some of the best managed farms, turnips receive about 25 tons 

 per acre of farmyard and Aberdeen city dung mixed ; and 

 potatoes about 20 tons of farmyard manure, very little artificial 

 manure being used. On other farms, also skilfully and success- 

 fully managed, a lesser quantity of dung is given, the dose being 

 supplemented by from 4 to 6 cwt. of artificial manure per acre, 

 mostly bones in different forms, guano, and superphosphates. 

 Sowing of grain is commenced between the middle of March 

 and first week of April; and of turnips about the loth of May. 

 Harvest, as a rule, begins between the 1st and 10th of Septem- 

 ber. On every farm a few cows are kept, but only a very small 

 number of the cattle fed upon it are bred on the estate, or even 

 in the county. A large number of Irish and other cattle are 

 bought in every year, and fed off when two or three years old. 

 A large quantity of cake, potatoes, grain, and maize is used 

 in feeding, along with turnips, straw, and hay. A good many 

 sheep are wintered on the property. The farm of Gyratsmyre 

 is held, along with another farm, by Mr John Taylor. The 

 extent of the two is 368 acres arable, and 120 acres of hill 

 pasture. The soil varies. Some fields are of black loam, some 

 clayey, and others moorish. Most of the laud is worked in five 

 shifts. The average yield of barley would be about \.\ qrs. per 

 acre, weighing 53 lbs. per bushel ; oats 5 qrs., weighing 40 lbs. , 

 potatoes, 6 tons; turnips, 16 tons; and hay about \\ ton per 

 acre. A breeding stock of cattle — mostly crosses with a few 

 shorthorns — is kept on the holding. The crosses are fed oft 

 when two years old, and the shorthorn bulls sold either when 

 newly weaned or when one year old. The feeding stock get 

 linseed cake for several weeks before being sent to the butcher. 

 At one time a lot of breediug ewes were kept on this farm, but 

 cattle now form the whole stock. Cattle are now fed ofi' a year 

 younger than they were some years ago. Most of the farm has 

 l3een fenced by the tenant, the proprietor having done a good 

 deal in the way of building and draining. Kent in this district 

 runs from 20s. to 30s. per acre. One of the largest holdings in 

 the county is that of Pitcarry and Clashendrum, on the estate 

 of Pitcarry, in the parish of Arbuthnott, and leased by Mr J. 

 Blythe Myles. It extends to 540 acres arable and 70 in rough 

 pasture. Five pairs of horses are kept at Pitcarry and ouc at 

 Clashendrum, the one farm adjoining the other. About 54 

 acres consist of stiff red clay, 40 acres free to moorish land, 

 100 acres friable black loam, and the remainder Ljood stron'j- 

 land, well adapted for grain. The slid land is worked in luc 

 six-shift rotation, three grain croj)s, and two gi'een crops, and 

 one year in grass. The ordinary five-shift rotation is pursued 

 on the other portion. In a pretty good year barley yields about 



