90 ON THE AGRICULTUEE OF 



of artificial manure above the dung to start the plants, the value 

 of the doze of light manure being about 25s. or 30s. per acre. Of 

 late years potatoes have sometimes been grown after lea, and in 

 that case no dung is given, a mixture of light manure being left 

 to do the work itself. This mixture usually consists of woollen 

 manure, dissolved bones, superphosphates, guano, and potash,, 

 and when given to the value of about £4 per acre invariably 

 produces an excellent crop, generally less damaged by disease 

 than when dung is applied in the ordinary way. Autumn wheat 

 is sown as soon as the potatoes are lifted, commencing about the 

 end of October, and continuing till the first of January when 

 the weather is suitable. Harvest usually commences aboat the 

 end of August or first of September. A mixed stock of cattle 

 and sheep are kept in this district, a large number being fed off 

 every year. Most of the cattle are bought in at the auction 

 marts at Dundee, Perth, or Forfar. Very few are bred in the 

 district. A good many farmers within the last few years have 

 returned to the old-fashioned mode of cropping, which leaves a 

 greater area under grass, and also lessens the manure bills- 

 There being much variety of land in this district, it is difficult 

 to arrive at a correct estimate of the averacfe rental. It cannot 

 be far wrong, however, to put it at 30s. per acre. Mr Fair- 

 weather took his holding ten years ago at a rent of 50s. per acre. 

 It has now been let to a new tenant at 37s. 6d. per acre, th& 

 proprietor undertaking to rebuild all the fence-dykes and erect 

 new steadings free of interest, the tenant performing all the- 

 carriages. One of the best holdings in the Guthrie district is- 

 that of the combined farms of Kewton of Guthrie and Drumhead^, 

 held by Mr John Eamsay at a rent of £615. They extend ta 

 378 acres, all arable. The soil is free black loam, with clayey 

 subsoil on three-fourths and gravel on the remainder. The 

 better land is worked in the seven-shift rotation, and the poorer 

 fields in the " easy sixes," that is, three years grass, two grain, 

 crops, and one green crop. Barley in this district yields from; 

 4J to 5 qrs. per acre, weighing 54 lbs. per bushel ; oats about 6 

 qrs., weighing 42 lbs. ; potatoes from 5 to 7 tons ; turnips 20 to- 

 30 tons ; and hay about 200 stones of 22 lbs. Asa rule potatoes, 

 get all or nearly all the farm-yard manure, turnips getting town 

 manure and artificial mixtures, usually guano, superphosphates,, 

 and bone meal, to the value of about £3, 10s. per acre. Harvest 

 generally commences in this district about the 20th of August. 

 Mr Eamsay keeps a stock of 70 or 80 cattle. He rears about 

 20 calves every year, and buys in the remainder at the principal 

 county markets. They are kept mostly on turnips and straw. 

 When potatoes are cheap a few are given to the cattle, while to- 

 finish off from 4 to 6 lbs. of linseed cake are allowed per day^ 

 Mr Eamsay has not for a long time made any alteration in tha- 



