150 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



The farm horses are strong and heavy, with a dash of the Clydes- 

 dale. The farm-steading is good and the dwelling-house excel- 

 lent, having been recently enlarged by the proprietor. Two 

 new and commodious labourers' cottages have also been recently 

 erected by the proprietor. 



Another valuable little property in this neighbourhood is the 

 estate of Allan, belonging to Mr David Monro, an enthusiastie 

 agriculturist, and a gentleman of ability. He cultivates the 

 home farm of Balinroich himself, and has taken a lively interest 

 in the agriculture of Ross-shire for many years. The soil on the 

 greater part of Balinroich is very rich fertile loam, and the finest 

 crops of every kind are raised on the farm. A part of it has 

 been under grass for many years, and still affords most valuable 

 pasture for cattle, and in these days of expensive labour, it is 

 more remunerative to retain it under grass. Mr Monro buys in 

 cross stirks, and feeds them off when two and three years old. 

 Allan House, VA^th its beautiful garden, spacious lawn, and 

 magnificent trees, lies in the centre of Balinroich, and is one of 

 the most charming residences in the county. Mr Monro at one 

 time farmed the whole of his estate himself, and about thirty 

 years ago he reclaimed about 100 acres of rough, marshy land, on 

 the farm of Clay of Allan, which forms the other part of the 

 estate. 



About eight years ago Mr Jonathan Middleton took the 

 " Clay " on a lease of twenty-one years, at a rent of L.1039. The 

 Clay extends to about 570 acres, and lies almost as level as a 

 billiard- table. The soil is mostlv stroncr adhesive alluvial loam, 

 with here and there subsoil beds of sand. Mr Middleton takes 

 two grain crops in succession, after one year's grass — first oats,, 

 and then wheat on his best land, and wheat and barley after 

 turnips on the second-rate land. His course of cropping, there- 

 fore, is as follows : — Best land — 1st, turnips ; 2d, wheat ; 3dy 

 hay ; 4th, oats ; 5th, wheat. Second-rate land — 1st, turnips ; 2d,, 

 wheat ; 3d, barley ; 4th, grass ; 5th, oats. This rotation may 

 seem rather strange, but it has been found to suit the peculiari- 

 ties of the soil better than any other yet tried. Every corn crop 

 grown on the farm is top-dressed, and the cross-cropped wheat is- 

 heavily dunged in autumn. The hay crop ia also well top- 

 dressed, and for his outlay for top-dressing Mr Middletom 

 usually finds himself handsomely remunerated. Besides feeding 

 about 300 cattle (to which we shall afterwards refer), he feeds 

 about 500 sheep every year. The sheep are bought in as lambs 

 from local sheep-farmers in the beginning of August, and ar& 

 kept on grass till the first of November, when they are put on 

 turnips and hay, ad libitum. About the first of February a small 

 allowance of cake is given them, and in the end of April or 

 beginning of May, they are clipped and sent off to the market- 



