106 ON THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE 



considered worth reclaiming lias been surface drained and planted ; 

 and when it is mentioned that, between 1864 and 1868, Mr 

 Fletcher expended no less than about L. 20,000 on improvements 

 of various kinds at Eosehaugh, some idea will be had of the ac- 

 tivity and stir that characterised the north-eastern point of the 

 Black Isle during those four years. The cost of the reclamation 

 of these 600 acres has been roughly estimated at from L.12 to 

 L.15 ]3er acre, according to the nature of the soil. 



About one-half of the estate of Ethie was arable when Mr 

 Fletcher obtained possession of it, and the other half was partly 

 wood and partly waste moorland. The soil on this estate generally 

 is very good, and altogether the property is a very desirable one. 

 A very large breadth of land has also been reclaimed on this estate, 

 while, as on Rosehaugh, every acre unsuitable for cultivation has 

 been surface drained and planted. On his recently acquired estates 

 Mr Fletcher has also been busy at work. In a word, every inch 

 of a gross total of about 3300 acres of waste and improvable land 

 which Mr Fletcher obtained along with his different estates has 

 been either reclaimed or enclosed, drained, and planted, according 

 to the natural qualities of the soil. Besides planting waste land 

 he has, in re-arranging the farms, formed several beltings of 

 wood through the estates, which in a few years will both beautify 

 and shelter the land. Mr Fletcher advances money on interest 

 to his tenants for suitable and permanent improvements — a privi- 

 lege that has been largely taken advantage of. The leases of a 

 considerable number of the farms w^ere renewed recently, and in 

 the new arrangement a large amount of building has been stipu- 

 lated for. The total cost of new, farm buildings at present in 

 course of erection or in contemplation will be upwards of 

 L.15,000; and altogether, since 1868, the bill for building, exclu- 

 sive of the mansion-house, cannot be less than L.20,000. 



The soil on Mr Fletcher's estates, generally speaking, consists 

 of a heavy clayey loam, and in most seasons it grows excellent 

 crops of all kinds. Wheat, however, is not very extensively 

 grown. The course of cropping is the ordinary five-shift rota- 

 tion. Part of the first year's grass is retained as hay, and the 

 remainder is used as pasture. Farms range in size from 50 to 500 

 acres in extent, the average size being from 100 to 150 acres. The 

 usual duration of leases is nineteen years, and rents are generally 

 paid at Lammas and Candlemas. On those farms that were re- 

 cently re-let, an increase of from 15 to 20 per cent, on the old 

 rent was obtained. The rental per acre over the estates generall}^ 

 varies a good deal. In some parts it is upwards of L.2. The 

 majority of both the farmers and the farm servants are natives of 

 the district, and are generally quiet, industrious people. Married 

 servants are now most in favour, but hitherto the number of this 

 class of servants has been limited in consequence of a want of 



