COUNTIES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY. 101 



acre is quite sufficient capital for any ordinary farm in this part 

 of the country. The farm of Fearn, extending to 510 acres, is 

 at present to let, and it is the general opinion of the farmers in 

 the neighbourhood, that the purse of the incoming tenant would 

 require, at the very least, to be equal to about L.8000. To stock 

 and carry on a farm, however, of, say from 100 to 150 acres of 

 ordinary land, from L.8 to L.9 per acre would be quite sufficient. 



Details of Bcclamations and of different Systems of 



Farming. 



The many and extensive agricultural improvements that 

 have been effected in Koss and Cromarty during the past twenty- 

 five years, deserve more than a mere general notice, and there- 

 fore we shall add a few notes, which we collected on a recent 

 tour through both counties. And while going into detail, we 

 shall also indicate, as briefly as possible, the various systems of 

 farming pursued in the difi'erent districts. For convenience, the 

 immense tract of land to "O over had better be divided into the 

 following districts : first, the Black Isle ; second. Mid Eoss ; 

 third, Easter Ross ; fourth, Wester Eoss ; and fifth, the Lewis. 



Tlie Black Isle. 



This extensive tract of land is embosomed in two curiously 

 bent arms of the sea, the Moray Firth and Beauly Firth on the one 

 side, and Cromarty Firth on the other. The soil throughout the 

 peninsula, as already stated, varies a good deal, but still it con- 

 tains a large breadth of very fine land. Crossing from Inver- 

 ness at Kessock ferry, we enter the parish of Knockbain, in which 

 there are several very fine farms. The largest proprietors in the 

 district are — ]\Ir J. F. Mackenzie of Allangrange ; Mr C. i\Iac- 

 kenzie of Kilcoy ; the Eight Hon. Henry J. Baillie of Eedcastle ; 

 and Mr E. Maclean of Drvnie. 



The Allan<jjran£ce estates extend to 3074^- acres, of which 2102 

 are arable; 547 J are pasture and waste land, and 425 under wood. 

 The present rent is L.1801, 18s., and in 1850 it was L.1317, 

 10s. 8d. ; increase during the past twenty-five years, L.574, 7s. 4d. 

 The soil varies a good deal, and consists of peat, clay, sand, loam, 

 and gravel, with here and there a pretty strong pan. The farms 

 on the estate vary from 40 to 230 arable acres, while there are 

 a large number of crofts ranging from 2 to 30 acres in extent. 

 Since 185U eight farm steadings have been built, and seventeen 

 new slated dwelling houses and cottages. All new houses are 

 slated, and ;ire substantial and commodious. Old houses are 

 chiefly thatclied. Fencing is now nearly complete on the prin- 

 cipal farms, wire being tlie most extensively used. J)uring the 

 past twenty-live years about 712 acres have been reclaimed by 

 trenching, ploughing, and draining where necessary. The land 



