94 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF 



and is not convetiientlv situated. The tenant has erected a large 

 extent of fencing, mostly wooden erections, which are being sup- 

 planted by wire fences as they decay, The steading and fields are 

 supplied with water by force pump and running streams. The 

 rent of land in this neighbourhood ranges from 30s. to 40s. per acre. 



Among other very fine farms in the parish of Eassie and 

 ]Srevay may be mentioned that of Castleton, occupied by Mr 

 John'^Adam. Situated on Mr Baird's estate of Drum Kilbo, it 

 extends to 450 acres, all arable, and is rented at £825. The 

 soil is a soft sandy loam, and the seven-shift rotation is pur- 

 sued. On an average, grain in this district will yield about 5 J 

 qrs. per acre ; wheat weighing 60 lbs. per bushel, barley 54 lbs., 

 and oats 42 lbs. Potatoes yield about 6^ tons, turnips 22 tons, 

 and hay about 200 stones of 22 lbs. Green crops get about 

 twelve cart loads of dung and about 5 cwt. of dissolved bones 

 and bone meal per acre. A good many cross bred cattle, mostly 

 Irish stock, are brought in and fed in the district. A large 

 number of cross bred and blackfaced sheep, mostly bred in the 

 county, are also bought in and fed. More cattle and sheep are 

 fed now than formerly, but in the system of cropping there has 

 been little or no change for twenty-five years. Mr Adam also 

 holds the farm of Balnakeilly in the parish of Lintrathen, from 

 the Earl of Airlie. It extends to 250 acres arable and 350 

 of pasture, the rental being £190. The soil consists of black 

 light loam on trap rock, and is worked in five shifts, with two 

 years' grass and one green crop. 



In the parish of Inverarity there are some very good farms, 

 one of the best managed being that of Seggieden on the estate 

 of Fotheringham, and tenanted by Mr Thomas jVI'Laren. It 

 extends to about 235 acres, all arable, and is rented at £500. 

 The soil in this district is mostly a heavy clayey loam, black 

 and free in some parts, and rather stiff in others. A good deal 

 of the land lies on a damp stiff subsoil, and would be much 

 improved by draining and liming. The seven-shift rotation is 

 the most general. Grain crops yield from 5 to 6 qrs. per acre in 

 fairly good years ; wheat weighing about 61 lbs. per bushel, 

 barley 53 lbs., and oats 42 lbs. Potatoes average about 4 tons, 

 turnips about 16 tons, and hay 2 tons. Potatoes get a good 

 supply of farm-yard dung, and turnips farm-yard and city dung, 

 supplemented by from 4 to 6 cwt. of artificial manure. The 

 rent of land in this district varies from £1 to £3, the average 

 being about £2 per acre. 



The principal property in the parish of Xewtyle is Belmont, 

 owned by the Earl of Wharnclifle. Extending to 8700 acres, 

 this fine property extends into the county of Perth, but the 

 main portion lies in Forfar. The rental amounts to £13,500, or 

 an average of considerably over 30s. per acre. The arable area 



