104 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



20 to 30 loads of farm-yard manure, and from 4 to 8 cwt. of 

 artificial manure, chiefly dissolved bones and guano, being 

 given to each acre. Swedes are generally sown between the 

 15th and the 30th of May, and yellow^s and whites between the 

 26th of May and the end of June. Of swedes about 3 lb. of 

 seed are allowed to the acre, and of yellows and whites about 2 J- 

 lbs. Potatoes are not grown at any great breadth in this district. 

 The land for potatoes is prepared in much the same way as for 

 turnips, but they receive the best of the farm-yard manure, 

 generally that which is made in summer, and also a little more 

 liberal supply of artificial manure than turnips. Mr Smith 

 keeps a breeding stock of cattle, and sells off his yearlings at 

 from L.12 to L.lS a-head. About the end of autumn he also ties 

 up twenty head of two and three year olds, which he buys in. 

 The three-year olds are fed off at Christmas, and usually weigh 

 about 6 cwt., and the two-year olds are sold off nearly fat about 

 the month of April. The three-years olds, during the last six 

 wrecks of their feeding^, o^et from li to 3 lbs. of cake and a little 

 crushed corn per day, and, after weaning his calves, Mr Smith 

 gives each of them a pound of cake per day until they are sold. 

 The farm servants in this district are mostly married, and cottage 

 accommodation is now much better than some twenty or twenty- 

 five years ago. 



Proceeding along the Portrose road, we pass through the 

 parishes of Avoch and Eosemarkie. The principal proprietors 

 in these parishes are Mr James Pletcher of Eosehaugh, Mr E. G. 

 Mackenzie of Plowerburn, Mr H. M. Fowler of Eaddery, and Mr 

 C. M. M. Millar of Kincurdy. Though it is only about twelve 

 years since j\lr Fletcher made his first purchase of land in Eoss- 

 fihire, he is now one of the largest proprietors in the county, his 

 gross annual rental amounting to upwards of L.9000. About 

 Martinmas 1864 he purchased the estate of Eosehaugh from Sir 

 James Mackenzie for about L. 145,000. This estate extends to about 

 6400 acres, and with the exception of some 200 acres has a plea- 

 sant southern exposure. Two years later Mr Fletcher acquired 

 the estates of Bennetsfield and Ethie, both adjoining Eosehaugh, 

 and extending respectively to about 500 and 1600 acres. Since 

 then he has acquired the estate of Avoch (including the estate of 

 Woodhead, in the parish of Eesolis), from General Kirkland. It 

 extends to about 1450 acres, to which are added about 650 acres 

 of the Milbuie Common, called the Plowerburn Moor. Mr 

 Fletcher's total acreage in the Black Isle is now no less than 

 about 10,600 acrces. 



When Mr Fletcher obtained possession of Eosehaugh there 

 were about 4013 acres under cultivation, about 900 under wood, 

 nearly 200 under houses, roads, dikes and water, wdiile the re- 

 mainder, 887 was chiefiv black moor and hills covered with heath 



