THE COUNTIES OF FOEFAR AND KINCARDINE. 107 



of bog or moor. The soil is now mostly light loam, resting partly 

 on a hard pan and partly on clay. In consideration of these re- 

 clamations, Mr Fairweather obtained the farm at a small rent, on 

 a lease of twenty-five years' duration. On the cost of draining 

 and building, which w?i3 advanced by the proprietor, the tenant 

 pays interest at the rate of 5 per cent. The land is worked on 

 the seven-shift rotation, with three years grass. The yield has 

 been fair and the grain up to the standard weight. Grass has 

 done well since the land was limed. The new land paid well as 

 long as the turf lasted. A stock of young cattle is kept, being 

 obtained and disposed of at local markets. 



Eetracing our steps, we again pass Brechin and take a run 

 through the Howe of Kinnaird, and the parishes of Logiepert and 

 Montrose, leaving the county at its extreme north-eastern corner. 

 The Howe of Kinnaird is one of the most beautiful parts in the 

 county. It is well wooded and well farmed, and is adorned by 

 Kinnaird Castle and grounds, one of the most charming country 

 seats in the kingdom. The soil is mostly alluvial, in some parts 

 stiff tenacious clay, and in these untoward times and bad seasons 

 it has proved a somewhat stubborn subject to deal with. A large 

 portion lies so low that it is liable to be flooded. A good many 

 hundred acres indeed lie below high-water mark at spring tides. 

 The thorough draining of the Howe has therefore been an ex- 

 ceedingly difficult matter. There is no doubt that, if thoroughly 

 drained and well limed, the land would be about the richest in 

 the county ; and in these respects it will in all probability before 

 long be greatly improved. In the parish of Logiepert, which is 

 bound in on the north by the North Esk, there are several large 

 skilfully managed farms. Brae of Pert, on the estate of Stra- 

 cathro, and rented by Mr Andrew Couper at £1200, is about the 

 largest. It extends to 670 acres, all arable. The soil in this 

 district varies from light gravelly loam to strong hard clay, a 

 pretty large extent being good sharp medium loam on a mode- 

 rately open subsoil. The better land is worked in the seven- 

 shift rotation, with two green crops, and the thinner soil in five 

 or six shifts. In a good season wheat yields about 4 qrs. per 

 acre, weighing GO to G4 lbs. per bushel ; barley, 5 qrs., weighing 

 53 to 5G lbs. ; and oats, 6 qrs., weighing 42 to 44 lbs. Turnips 

 usually get about 12 loads of farmyard manure, and about G 

 cwt. of bones and other light manures per acre. Votatoes get 14 

 loads of dung and 3 cwt. of potash and bones. Harvest com- 

 mences between the middle of August or 1st of September. 

 A large stock of Irish and home-bred cattle, the former forming 

 the large majority, are fed in tliis district. A good many sheep 

 are also fattened or wintered. For Ijotli cattle and sheep, cako 

 and bruised grain are extensively used, much more so now than 

 formerly. On tlie farm of lirae of Pert and others a great deal 



