182 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



sheep, and when from L.7 to L.9 per acre can be had for this 

 purpose, the system must be regarded as a profitable one. The 

 turnip crop generally over these counties is invariably heavy and 

 of excellent quality. Swedes on an average range from 20 to 28 

 tons per acre, and on the better farms a yield of 30 tons is con- 

 sidered nothing very unusual. The average of yellows is a little 

 higher than of swedes, and occasionally this variety yields as 

 many as 35 tons per acre. As in the general management of the 

 crops, more care is now bestowed on the selection of turnip seed 

 than formerly, and a good many farmers grow the greater part 

 of their seed on their own farms. 



Potatoes. — Potato farming is pursued more extensively all over 

 the north of Scotland now than some fifteen or twenty years ago. 

 The following table shows the area under potatoes in Eoss and 

 Cromarty at various periods since 1854 : — 



Potato farming has more of the speculative element than the 

 cultivation of any of the other ordinary crops, and therefore ifc 

 has strong attractions to some. Occasionally it pays exceedingly 

 well, better than any other ordinary crop, but on the other 

 hand it often proves very unremunerative. Disease often 

 destroys more than half the crop, and the prices now and then 

 are very low ; and on an average of say eight or ten years few 

 farmers can boast of a very large return of potatoes. In Easter 

 Ptoss, in the Black Isle, and in Mid Pioss there are a few farmers 

 who plant small fields of potatoes, some going the length of 70 

 acres, and others only 10 or 12. On some farms they are grown 

 after grass and on others after oats. IMedium land suits potatoes 

 better than rich heavy land, and in fact the best crops are often 

 grown on the lightest land. The land is prepared for potatoes 

 much in the same way as for turnips, and while the latter 

 require a very large amount of labour, the former entail a great 

 deal. The lifting of potatoes is a very slow and expensive 

 operation, and when the weather is wet and imsteady the crop 

 is often slightly damaged in the process. About the same 

 quantity of farmyard manure is given to the acre for potatoes a?? 

 for swedes, but the dose of artificial manure is generally 

 increased a little. The yield of potatoes varies very much, 

 ranging from 4 to 8 tons per acre, according to the condition of 

 the land and the season. The crop in 1876 proved exceptionally* 

 good, and as much as L.28 was offered for the acre. In 1875 a. 

 large farmer in the Black Isle pocketed about L.1800 for the 

 potatoes grown on a field of 70 acres. 



Other Green Cto]^s. — About 20 acres are put under mangold- 



