100 ON THE AGRICULTUHE OP 



has made improvements on the farm buildings, and has also 

 drained some portions at his own cost. Mr Doig, Balfour, re- 

 claimed large portions of rough pasture land on the farm of 

 Knowehead, and also drained the new land and part of the old. 

 Both these gentlemen are skilful and enterprising farmers, and 

 by good management have very much improved the land they 

 hold. The soil on the Careston estate, which also extends into 

 the parishes of Menmuir, Fearn, and Lethnot and Novar, is very 

 various. On the lower portions it consists of a deep rich 

 alluvial soil, patches of it being light and sandy or gravelly. 

 Along the centre of the property the soil is chiefly a deep loam 

 of good quality, capable of growing excellent crops of all kinds 

 of grain, turnips, and potatoes. On the upper portion the soil 

 is thinner, but generally sharp and well suited to the production 

 of turnips, oats, and barley. In moderately damp seasons it 

 also grows grasses welL The richer land is farmed in the seven- 

 shift rotation, and the poorer on the five or the " easy " six. The 

 farms as a rule range from 200 to 300 acres in extent. There are 

 about ten crofts, varying from 4 to 25 acres in extent, held under 

 nineteen years' lease, the rent per acre being higher than the same 

 land would bring in larger holdings. Very few cattle are bred 

 in the district, a large number of Irish yearlings and two-year- 

 olds being bought in and fed every year. Some very good crosses 

 between Highland cows and shorthorn bulls are bred in the 

 estate. The farm of Nathro is devoted wholly to sheep, and 

 carries a good stock of blackfaced ewes which are crossed with 

 Leicester tups. On a few other farms in the district, a number 

 of blackfaced and crossbred sheep are reared and fed. 



We are now in the neighbourhood of the ancient and royal 

 burgh of Brechin, which with its noble castle, unique round 

 tower, and beautiful cathedral, used as a parish church, has much 

 to interest and delight visitors. In this district there are many 

 large and remarkably well-managed farms. The farm of West 

 Drums, on the south of Brechin, has been held by the same 

 family for four generations, the present tenant being Mr William 

 Smith, a gentleman of intelligence and experience in agricultural 

 matters. The holding now includes three different farms. 

 Situated on the Aldbar estate it extends to 450 acres, all arable ; 

 and in addition Mr Smith sometimes takes fields of pasture. The 

 soil rests on the Old Eed Sandstone, which comes very close to the 

 surface, and of which there is an excellent quarry on the'farm. On 

 the better parts the soil is a good friable loam, and on others sharp 

 but somewhat light. It is, on the whole, well adapted to barley 

 and turnip husbandry; and of both these, as well as of oats, 

 excellent crops are raised. The farm is all enclosed with stone 

 dykes, and, with the exception of about 100 acres on the 

 western boundary, it is well watered from springs. The fields 



