COUNTIES OF KOSS AND CROMAETY 99 



TO-- 1QT7 increase 



^S^^- ^^"- percent. 



Feam (wholly arable) rental, L.5853 17 L.9122 15 51-22 

 Tarbat, . . ., . 3915 3 6842 2 7476 



Nigg (some grazings), „ . 4933 6368 29-08 



Average increase per cent, for three arable parishes, 51 '22. 



The greatest percentage of increase in these parishes is on the 

 Balnagown estate, in the parish of Fearn, on which the increase 

 since 1855 is no less than 109*40 per cent. The least is on the 

 estate of Shandwick, in iSTigg, on which the increase is only 9 

 per cent. As regards large grazing farms, we shall take the 

 parish of — 



1855. 1876. Increase per cent. 



Glenshiel, . L.3040 L.4080 34-00 



Regarding crofts, we shall select the parish of — 



1855. 1876. Increase per cent. 



Barras in Lewis, . L.2185 L.2788 27-00 



These figures speak so plainly that comment is unnecessary. 



The gross and acreage rentals of a county are two very different 

 things. An increase in the former, during a certain period, can 

 be ascertained to within a fraction ; but of an advance on the 

 latter only an approximate idea can be given. The immense 

 increase that has taken place during the past twenty-five years 

 in the gross rental of the counties of Ross and Cromarty is due 

 chiefly to the increased arable acreage, and the growing demand 

 for shootings and fishings ; but still the advance has been 

 swelled considerably by an increase on the acreage rental. That 

 increase varies in different parts of the counties. On the arable 

 land in some parts of the counties, the increase has been as much 

 as 50 per cent. — in a few cases even more ; in others, not more 

 than 20 per cent. ; but taking the counties as a whole, it may be 

 stated with safety at from 25 to 35 per cent. The increase in 

 the rental of grazing farms varies greatly. In a few cases it has 

 been doubled since 1850 ; Ijut of the majority of farms, tlie 

 parish of Glenshiel, already quoted, may be taken as a fair speci- 

 men. A very pertinent question here would be, Have the 

 altered circumstances of the agriculture of Ross and Cromarty, 

 since 1850, warranted this large increase in the acreage rental ? 

 Speaking broadly, we are inclined to answer in the alUrmative. 

 A great deal more capital is re(|uired to farm a holding of, say 

 150 acres, now than in 1850 ; that is to say, the amount of grain, 

 beef, &c., which that 150-acre farm is capable of producing, <>r 

 rearing, for the market in a year, costs the tenant more now that 

 twenty-iive years ago. But, on the other hand, the advance in 

 the revenue from a year's yield of grain, beef, &c., is even more 

 than commensurate to the increased cost of produce. Jn other 



