COUXTIES OF E0S3 AXD CllOMAETY. 137 



duce very good crops of both cereals and green crops. Almost 

 the whole of the arable land has a pleasant southern exposure. 

 The average rent of the new land is 21s. per acre, and of the old 

 land which has been remodelled, from 28s. to 40s. per acre. The 

 first nineteen years' lease on most of the new farms will expire 

 within a year or two, and the farms have all been re-let to the old 

 tenants at a slight increase of rent. The estate regulations under 

 which these farms are let are carefully drawn out printed docu- 

 ments — much superior to the ancient written lawyer leases. 

 The clause bearing on improvement is as follows : — "The tenants 

 will be allowed on interest lime, at the ship's side, in such 

 quantity as may be considered necessary for their lands, and a 

 sum per acre as may be agreed upon for trenching, draining, and 

 otherwise improving their lands. They will also be allowed on 

 interest, iron wire, and cost of erection of fences for closing and 

 subdividing their farms where stones cannot be obtained. All 

 the above interest to be at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, 

 payable along with the rent. The tenants will be allowed, free of 

 charge, tiles for draining wdiere stones cannot conveniently be got, 

 wood for intermediate standards for wire fencing, and timber, and 

 lime for such additions as may be considered necessary for the 

 accommodation of their farms erected to a plan approved of by 

 the proprietor, such fences and buildings to be left in a tenantable 

 state of repair at the end of the lease." 



Before leaving Mr Matheson's east coast estates, we may briefly 

 refer to the extensive and important improvements he has carried 

 out on his w^est coast properties at Strathcarron in the parish of 

 Lochcarron, at Strathbran in the parish of Contin, at Ardintoul 

 in the parish of Glenshiel, at Inverinate in the parish of Kiutail, 

 at Balmacara, and Duncraig. At Duncraig a very handsome 

 new mansion has been erected since 1866, and furnished and 

 fitted up with all the modern appliances. New gardens have 

 also been made here, the site chosen being a narrow gully between 

 two high ridges of rock. The rock was cut away on both sides, 

 and a level upwards of two acres in extent having been formed, 

 soil composed of virgin soil and turfy loam, from a loch near by, 

 was spread at considerable depth on the level, and thus a very 

 rich fertile garden was formed, where before there was nothing 

 ]jut bare rock. The scenery around Duncraig is really magni- 

 ficent, and the landscape immediately in front of the mansion 

 very picturesque. Tlie grounds are formed of wooded knolls 

 and grassy valleys, which have been improved and tastefully 

 laid out under permanent pasture, and the blending of rock, 

 wood, and waving grass is i)leasant in the extreme. About 12 

 miles of private drives and walks were furmed around Uuncraig, 

 and in some cases these had to be cut out of the solid rock. At 

 one or two points, in fact, the road had to be formed in the face 



