COUNTIES OF EOSS AND CEO^MAETY. 117 



reared. The bull in use at tlie farm just now was purcliased 

 from Mr E. Bruce, late of i^ewton of Strutliers, Forres. Two or 

 three good pure bred shorthorn cows are also kept at the farm. 

 A good many cattle are fed during winter ; and a large lot of 

 pure Berkshire pigs are reared and fed in the courts at the stead- 

 ing. From 400 to 500 cross ewes are pastured on the farm; 

 and from these and Leicester tups a crop of lambs is raised 

 every year that commands the top prices at the Inverness Wool 

 Fair. The steadin^^ on the home farm was built in 1822 ; and it is 

 worthy of remark, that Hugh Miller worked at it as an apprentice 

 mason. The entrance into the steading is surmounted by a tall 

 handsome tower. Sir'Kenneth has also an extensive estate in the 

 parish of Gairloch, his rental there alone amounting to L.7300. 

 There are a few small-sized arable farms on the Gairloch pro- 

 perty, and between 400 and 500 crofts, averaging about five 

 acres in extent. A good many of these crofters have reclaimed 

 the whole of their possessions, while others have improved little 

 more than one-half. The system of cultivation on these and 

 other crofts throughout the counties will be noticed more fully 

 afterwards. 



The Findon estate has been very considerably improved, by 

 reclaiming, draining, fencing, and building of late; and during the 

 past eight or nine years the rental has increased from L.3774 to 

 L.4624. There are a great many crofts and small farms on this 

 estate, and some large and very fine farms, The largest farm on 

 the estate is Woodlands, situatedin the parish of Kiltearn, and oc- 

 cupied by Mr Jonathan Middleton, Davidston, at a rent of L.555. 



Continuing round towards Beauly Firth, we pass through 

 the parish of Kiltearn, which joins Knockbain, near our start- 

 ing point on the Black Isle. The large proprietors in this 

 parish are — Mr Mackenzie of Kilcoy (whose estates have akeady 

 been noticed), and the Right Hon. Henry J. Baillie of Redcastle. 

 The improvements on the liedcastle property since 1850 have been 

 extensive, important, and costly. A considerable extent of land 

 has been reclaimed, while buildiufj, draining" and fenciuLT have 

 been going on apace. The rental since 18G8 has increased from 

 about L.5800 or LG500. 



We have now made a complete circuit of the Black Isle ; but 

 before taking leave of the peninsula, we must refer shortly to tlie 

 old " Mulbuie Common." This inmiense tract of land, extending 

 to 7044 acres, stretched along the whole top of the Black Isle, 

 and for hundreds of years was used as a common outrun for the 

 Black Isle generally. It was originally covered witii little else 

 than black heath, and its pasture was of no great value. It was 

 asserted that the soil, over at least the greater portion of the com- 

 m(»n, was (juite suitable for improvement, and likely to make 

 very fair arable land; b\it while it remained the property of no 



