84 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF 



substantial improvement. A good deal has likewise been done 

 in road making near Panmure House, while since about 1870 

 close on 700 acres of wood have been planted. Of these 200 

 acres were planted about ten years ago ; and form an addition 

 to the Mansion House policies, the greater part of which has 

 recently been thoroughly drained. These 200 acres were fenced 

 with a high stone wall. 



Balhousie, tenanted by Mr George Cowe, is one of the best 

 managed farms on the Panmure estate. A large part of it has 

 been drained by himself ; while it is cultivated and manured to 

 the very highest degree, producing abundant crops of all kinds. 

 A choice small flock of Border Leicesters is kept on the farm, 

 while a number of two-year-old cross cattle are bought in in 

 autumn and fed during winter. One of the largest and one of 

 the best farms along the east coast of the county is Pitskelly, 

 leased by Mr F. Dickson at a rent of £1100. The soil is mostly 

 strong sound loam, not so stiff as some land on other farms in 

 the neighbourhood. Panlathie Mill, in the parish of Arbirlot, 

 is also very carefully and skilfully managed by its enterprising 

 tenant; Mr James Duncan. The soil, mostly black friable loam, 

 is worked in the six shift rotation. Wheat vields from 4 to 5 

 qrs., and weighs from 59 to 64 lbs.; barley 5 to 6 qrs., weighing 

 from 49 to 55 lbs.; oats 6 to 7 qrs., weighing from 40 to 47 lbs,; 

 potatoes 6 to 7 tons; turnips 14 to 18 tons; and hay from 1^ 

 to 2^ tons per acre. Potatoes receive nearly all the manure 

 that can be made in covered courts, tlie litter grown on the 

 farm being supplemented by flax dust ; and in addition to this 

 2 or 3 cwt. of artificial manure is allowed to the acre. Turnips 

 are generally manured with artificial stuffs. Mr Duncan has 

 long devoted special attention to the raising of potatoes, in which 

 he has been eminently successful. Latterly, he has been con- 

 ducting experiments in the producing of new varieties which 

 cannot fail to be of service to the country. Wheat is sown as 

 soon as the potatoes are got out of the ground, generally in 

 ISTovember, and sometimes in December. Harvesting of grain 

 extends from the end of August to the middle of October. 

 Turnips are not as a rule stored in large quantities, only as 

 many being kept in store as would supply the stock for a month 

 or six weeks. A number of store cattle, generally Irish stock, 

 are bought in every year, and fed off at various times, on turnips, 

 straw, hay, cake, and meal. A few are fed in the courts in 

 summer on cut grass, cake, &c. With some assistance from the 

 proprietor, for which he pays from 5 to 6 J per cent, interest, 

 Mr Duncan has redrained nearly all his farm, and erected a 

 new dwelling-house, and the greater part of the farm steading. 

 The farm of Inverpeffer, occupied by Mr James Swan, and 

 rented at £645, 10s., lies in a detached portion of the parish of 



