THE COUNTIES OF FORFAR AND KINCARDINE. 109 



The parish of St Cyrus is about the best favoured in the county 

 in regard to soil and climate combined. It extends to 8718' 

 acres, and brings a rental of £18,028, or more than an average- 

 of £2 per acre. The increase since 1855 amounts to no less than 

 £5219, or close on 12s. per acre. The soil is mostly good sound 

 loam, pretty strong in some parts and light in others, but as a 

 rule very fertile. The subsoil is partly decomposed red sand- 

 stone, partly of a clayey nature and partly gravelly. The better 

 class of land is worked mostly on the six-shift rotation with two 

 green crops. Some work in four shifts with one green crop^ 

 partly potatoes. A considerable extent is put under beans and 

 potatoes on the richer lands. The principal estate is Lauriston, 

 owned by Mr D. S. Porteous. As on the other properties, a 

 good deal has been done here within the last twenty-five years, 

 in the way of draining, fencing, and building. On the smaller 

 parish of Benholm which adjoins on the north, there is also a 

 considerable proportion ot excellent soil — good deep fertile loam,, 

 well suited to all the ordinary crops. It is farmed in a way 

 similar to the better lands in St Cyrus, and yields fully as welL 

 Here also, however, there is some light loam, chiefly on the 

 higher parts, and likewise some portions of close hard land that 

 can scarcely be made even fairly fertile. This parish extends- 

 to 5216 acres. The rental is £8167, the increase since 1855 

 being £1532. The largest property in this 2:)arish belongs to 

 Mr Hercules Scott of Brotherton, one of the most enterprising 

 and liberal-minded landlords in the county. He takes a lively 

 interest in everything that tends to promote the interests not 

 only of his own tenantry but also of the county generally. In 

 the shape of draining, fencing, reclaiming, building, and other 

 works, he has carried out extensive improvements on his well- 

 managed and highly cultivated property. The lands of Ben- 

 holm, formerly owned by the Baroness De Virte, were purchased 

 in July 1879 by Mr William Smith, Stone 0' Morphie, for the 

 sum of £25,600. The property extends to 740 acres, yields a 

 rental of about £1000, and is altogether one o|the most desirable 

 little estates in the county. In 1877 the property was care- 

 fully gone over by Mr George James Walker, Hillside House, 

 Bortlethen, a gentleman experienced in the valuation of land, 

 and by him it was estimated as worth £31,100, — a sum which 

 in all probability would readily have been obtained some live 

 or six years ago. The soil is mostly strong fertile loam, only a 

 very small portion being light. Benholm Castle, which is being 

 extended and renovated by Mr Smitli, is beautifully .situated iu 

 the midst of extensive antl well laid out policies. The home 

 farm, extending tu 167 acres anil rented at £373, was taken 

 over by Mr Smith at the expiry of the lease at Martinmas 3 879, 

 and is to be farmed by himself. 



