COUNTIES OF EOSS AND CROMAETY. 105 



and broom. The soil on the greater portion of this waste land 

 was found to consist chiefly of rich loam and strong reddish clay, 

 and believing that it was likely to turn out well under cultiva- 

 tion, Mr Fletcher determined to give it a trial. Keclaiming 

 operations were begun about six months after Mr Fletcher got 

 possession, and in the course of about four years upwards of 600 

 of the 887 acres of waste land were brought under cultivation. 

 The land was thoroughly drained in its natural state, the 

 drains in general being about 30 feet apart and 3 feet 6 inches in 

 depth. Stones were laid in the main drains, and tiles, chiefly 

 from the Morayshire Tileworks, were used in the branch drains. 

 The rougher patches of the land were trenched, but by far the 

 greater portion was ploughed with strong subsoil ploughs, each 

 drawn l:)y three powerful horses. The land being naturally 

 level and comparatively free from stones, a furrow was taken each 

 way to the depth of about 12 inches. In the tract of land thus 

 reclaimed there were a few acres of moss which had to be 

 drained to a depth of 10 feet. But heavy as this undertaking 

 was there was still heavier to accomplish in the way of draining. 

 Loch Scadden covered between 5 and 6 acres at the east side 

 of the property, and this sheet of water Mr Fletcher resolved to 

 do away with. A large canal about 15 feet deep was formed 

 through the centre of the loch, from which numerous branch 

 drains stretched out on both sides. In this way the loch was 

 thoroughly dried, and where water lay the richest crops are 

 now m^own. In addition to reclaiminc^ these 600 acres, ]\Ir 

 Fletcher has thoroughly redrained almost the whole of the old 

 land. Such a large addition as this to the arable area of the 

 estate, of course, necessitated a considerable outlay for building. 

 Four or five complete new steadings were built, while the majority 

 of the old steadings were extended and improved. Several 

 liandsome dwelling-houses have also been erected. During the 

 first four years he possessed Iiosehaugh, Mr Fletcher erected 

 close on 15 mih^s of substantial stone dikes, and about an 

 ef|ual stretch of wire fencing. For outlay for fencing as well as 

 on building the tenants pay 5 per cent, interest. Mr Fletcher 

 also constructed several miles of accommodation roads, and sju^nt 

 a considerable sum in repairing the old roads of the district. In 

 addition to the buiklings which he erected for his tenants, Mr 

 Fletcher spent uj)wards of L.VUO in erecting a school and school- 

 master's house on the Killin part of the pro{)t'rty, a district that had 

 hitherto been greatly in want of educational machinery. Avery 

 hantlsonn! and commodious mansion-house has also been built 

 on Jiosehaugli, while a considerable sum of money has been ex- 

 pended in beautifying the grounds, which now make ^fr Fletcher's 

 l)hu'k Isle residence one of the most cliarmin<r countrv seats in 

 tlie northof Scotland. Kveryacre,aye even every inch, that was not 



