102 ON THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE 



tlius brought under cultivation was previously, for the most part, 

 waste moorland, intersected here and there with small patches of 

 arable land. These reclamations, which will in course of time be 

 remunerative to the estate, were done chiefly by the proprietor, 

 but in some cases the tenants assisted handsomely. In addition 

 to these improvements the greater portion of the old land has 

 been redrained since 1850, and a considerable amount done in 

 the way of squaring up farms and fields. In many cases the 

 tenants on improving leases held waste land at Is. 6d. per acre, 

 and the holdings were profitable to them, — the proprietor's share 

 of the profits coming in only at the expiry of the leases. Ordi- 

 nary leases run from fifteen to nineteen years, but there are also 

 life -rent leases, and hfe-rent leases to original holders and fifteen 

 years to their successors. The incoming tenant gets possession of 

 the grass, manure, fallow, and houses and gardens at Whitsunday, 

 and of land under grain crop at the end of harvest, he having 

 the option of taking the grain crop at its valuation. The ancient 

 custom was for tenants to build on the system of meliorations; 

 but now building is chiefly executed by the proprietor, ihe tenant 

 paying either an increased rent or a percentage on the outlay. 

 ^^Tien a tenant builds at his own expense some special agree- 

 ment is entered into. The rent per acre on farms held under 

 ordinary leases varies from 15s. to 28s. per acre. Under old 

 leases rents are collected at Candlemas, Martinmas, and Whit- 

 sunday, but under new leases at the latter terms only. The pre- 

 vailing system of rotation is the ordinary five shifts, — two years 

 grass, two grain crops, and one green crop. Most of the tenants 

 keep cross cows, and rear their own cattle from these and short- 

 horn bulls. The home-bred stock, which are supplemented when 

 the markets suit the buyer, are kept on for grazing, and are fed 

 off when two years' old. They are tied into the feeding stalls 

 at the beginning of the previous October, and get abundance of 

 swedes and a little cake. Probably more of this latter com- 

 modity might be used with considerable advantage to the feeder. 

 There are no sheep farms on the estate; and the heather pasture, 

 with the run of the arable land, is let to owners of Cheviot sheep 

 as wintering. About 110 acres have been planted since 1850. 

 Mr Mackenzie farms about 205 arable acres, and is a thoroughly 

 practical, intelligent agriculturist. Farm servants are mostly 

 single, or in the proportion of about three to one. The sons oi 

 the smaller tenants and crofters generally work as farm servants. 

 Mr George Maclean's estate of Drynie is small, but well managed 

 and carefully farmed. It lies chiefly in the parish of Knock- 

 bain, but a small arm stretches into the parish of Killearnan. 

 The arable land has been slightly increased of late, and -s-arious 

 permanent improvements have been executed, chiefly by the pro- 

 prietor. The rental during the past ten years has increased from 



