108 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF 



lias been done within recent years, both by the proprietor and 

 tenant, in the way of draining, building, and fencing. Eent 

 varies from 25s. to 40s. per acre. The farm of West Ballochy, 

 also on the Stracathro estate, is held along with West Mains of 

 Xeithock by Mr Charles Martin. West Ballochy extends to 260 

 acres, and is rented at £476. The soil is black loam with clayey 

 subsoil on two-thirds of the farm, and gravel and sand on the 

 remainder. The seven-course rotation is pursued. Wheat yields 

 about of qrs., barley 8|- qrs.,oats 5 qrs., potatoes 6 J tons, turnips 



14 tons, and hay 150 stones of 22 lbs. each. Potatoes get from 



15 to 20 loads of farmyard manure per acre ; and turnips about 

 the same, with the addition of 3 or 4 cwt. of guano and dis- 

 solved bones. Mr Martin rears about twenty calves, and also 

 keeps about forty one-year-old and thirty two-year-old cattle, 

 besides ten cows. When potatoes are cheap they are given 

 along with or instead of turnips, cake and bean meal being also 

 laro;elv used in the feeding: of cattle. Mr Martin has reclaimed 

 a portion of land from natural pasture, while the proprietor has 

 •drained almost the wdiole of the holding, and built a dwelling- 

 house and farm steading, the tenant paying interest on the out- 

 lay at the rate of 5 per cent., and performing all carriages free. 

 The land has been fenced, partly by the proprietor and partly by 

 ihe tenant. 



Kincardine. 



We commence with Kincardine, as we did with Forfar, at its 

 •extreme south-eastern corner — at the mouth of the North Esk. 

 And, as in Forfar, we find the first farm, that of Stone 0' 

 Morphie, held by Mr William Smith, a gentleman of extensive 

 •and accurate knowledge of farming, and a noted breeder and 

 judge of polled Aberdeen and Angus cattle. This fine farm is 

 situated on the estate of Morphie, in the parish of St Cyrus, 

 lies close to the North Esk, and is rented at £913, 8s. The soil 

 is variable ; very rich loam on some parts, thin sharp loam on 

 others. Tlie better fields are rented as high as about £3 per 

 acre. In good seasons beautiful crops of wheat, barley, oats, 

 potatoes, and turnips are grown, the land being maintained in 

 very high condition. A large number of cattle, bought in as 

 yearlings or two -year- olds, mostly at the latter age, are fed on 

 the farm, partly on the grass fields and partly in the courts. 

 Both inside and on the fields a large quantity of feeding stuffs 

 is used. Mr Smith's lease is almost exhausted. During it he 

 has expended about £300 on the repairing of the farm steading, 

 and about £200 in the purchasing of moveable fences, while the 

 proprietor has erected servants' cottages. The adjoining farm 

 of Morphie, rented by Mr James Adamson at £1000, is also 

 £managed with skill and success. It contains a good deal of rich 

 loam and some rather thin soil, mostly sharp and sound however. 



