88 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF 



thus reduced far below tlie value of the really good land. 

 Bolshan, occupied by Mr Goodlet, is one of the largest and 

 one of the best managed farms in the county. Situated in the 

 parish of Kinnell, on a slope facing south-west, it extends to 

 690 acres, of which 670 are under cultivation, the remainder 

 consisting mostly of wood pasture. Mr Goodlet took the farm 

 by public competition, paying a large increase on the former 

 rent, while on the renewal of the lease in 1866 he paid a further 

 advance, making the total increase on the rent since 1847 70 

 per cent. The soil consists of a clayey loam of a moorish 

 texture on the west, where it adjoins the moorside, and runs 

 into stiffish clay on the south-east. The whole farm lies on a 

 clay bottom, overlying the sandstone formation, with protruding 

 pieces of whinstone on the heights. On 280 acres the seven- 

 course rotation is pursued, and on 330 acres the five-shift, with 

 one green crop and two grasses, while the remaining 60 acres 

 are allowed to lie in pasture, being broken up at intervals and 

 sown down again. Wheat yields on an average 4 qrs., weighing 

 58 to 62 lbs. ; barley 5 qrs. ; oats close on 6 qrs.; turnips from 

 18 to 25 tons ; potatoes from 4 to 9 tons ; and hay from 200 

 to 300 stones per acre. Only as much hay is grown as is 

 sufficient to supply the farm horses and sheep, the rest of the 

 young grass being pastured mostly by sheep. The root crops 

 get from twelve to fifteen cart loads of farm-yard manure, and 

 4 or 5 cwt. of guano and other light manures per acre. Guano 

 has been used latterly on account of Mr Goodlet's having found 

 that his cold-bottomed land was not much benefited by the 

 •superphosphates and other artificial compounds which he had 

 tried. Yov a number of years he has obtained large quantities 

 of Aberdeen city manure for mixing with his farm-yard manure, 

 and from this he has found more benefit than from any quan- 

 tity of light manures he has ever used. The grass lands in 

 particular, which were formerly poor, have improved very 

 much under this treatment. From 120 to 130 cattle are keplj 

 during winter. The majority are bought in, but a few are 

 bred on the farm from cross cows and a well-bred shorthorn 

 bull. The two and three-year-old cattle, which make up three- 

 fourths or more of the lot, are fed on turnips, cakes, and 

 crushed grain, and sold as they become " ripe." The three-year- 

 olds weigh on an average, when sold, from 48 to 54 stones 

 (Dutch), and the two-year-olds from 40 to 44 stones. About 50 

 young cattle and cows are grazed during summer. In addition 

 to the cattle stock, a large and very good flock of Border Leicester 

 sheep are kept. To these we shall refer again. Since his entry Mr 

 Goodlet has effected great improvement on the farm, not onlyiii 

 the land, but also in the houses and other respects. When he 

 obtained possession the land was run out and full of weeds, and 



