COUXTIES OF ROSS AND CEOMARTY. 125 



but are deficient in phosphate ingredients, and therefore not 

 calculated to rear big-framed animals. So rich, in fact, are they 

 in fattening compounds, that indiscriminate, or even irregular 

 use to young stock, has frequently been known to cause quarter- 

 ill and kindred diseases. Among the larger farmers, scarcely 

 any cattle are bred. Stirks and two-year olds, chiefly from 

 Caithness, are bought in during the summer months, and fed off 

 from Christmas till April on abundance of turnips and a fair 

 allowance of cake. During the past two years the " soiling" 

 system of feeding has been practised pretty extensively, and is 

 likely to become very popular. Probably more than double the 

 number of cattle fed on the estate twenty years ago is now fat- 

 tened. The selling prices range from L.25 to L.35. On the 

 crofts a number of very fair cross calves is reared every season. 

 Some of the larger farmers rear three-fourth and half-part bred 

 sheep, and feed off the lambs when yearlings. The general cus- 

 tom, however, on the estate, is to buy in cross lambs for feeding 

 in winter. The arable farms vary in extent from 100 to 500 

 acres, though a few do not exceed 50 acres. There are also 

 many crofts, varying from 4 to 10 acres ; and several labourers' 

 cottao'es have attached to them about half an acre. These cottages 

 are let at a nominal rent of half-a~crown, with the view to retain 

 in the district an abundant supply of labourers. The town of Ding- 

 wall lies into the property, and of course the land immediately 

 adjoining the burgh is turned to good account by dairy farming 

 and the like. The rent of this land varies from L.3 to L.4 per 

 acre. The average for better land throughout the estate is about 

 L.2 per acre, while for crofters' land it is little more than 10s. 

 The rental of the arable land generally has advanced about 20 

 per cent, since 1850, and that of the pasture land has been 

 nearly doubled. 



Part of the Brahan estate lies in the parish of Dingwall, and 

 on this section is situated the fine farm of Humberston, occupied 

 by Mr ^Eneas Adam. It extends to about 560 acres, all arable, 

 and is rented partly at L.l and partly at L.2 per acre. Since 

 1850 Mr Adam has reclaimed about 120 acres, one-half with the 

 pick and S])ade, and the other with a plough drawn by oxen. 

 The fir.st half reclaimed was pretty good soil, and was not so diffi- 

 cult to get into crop growing-condition. On the other half the 

 soil was very poor, and a great deal more money was required 

 both to reclaim it by ploughing, draining, and fencing, and to eu- 

 rich it so as to make it yield cro])S. The proprietor allowed L.5 

 per acre for the laml thus reclaimed, to be paid at the end of the 

 lease. The new land proved very suitable for growing srn^ss, 

 and is yearly improving in condition. The five-course rotation 

 is followed, and very tine crops of all kinds are grown. Mr 

 Adam now gives nothing to turnips but artiiicial manures; and 



