COUNTIES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY. 139 



really began his west coast improvements about 1847. A" fine 

 mansion-house was built, and surrounded by tastefully laid out 

 gardens and grounds, the greater part of which was reclaimed 

 from the sea; and, in addition to all this, close on 300 acres of 

 land were either reclaimed or remodelled and improved. Inver- 

 inate Lodge is let to a sporting tenant, and a new lodge, recently 

 built at Dorrisduan, is also occupied by a sportsman. 



At Strathcarron about 200 acres of land have been reclaimed 

 and a o'ood many crofters' cottages built, concrete havincr been 

 used in consequence of stones being difficult to procure. Arrange- 

 ments have been made for the building of other eight concrete 

 cottages ; and here, as well as at Strome ¥erry and Balmacara, 

 a commodious hotel has been built. The arable land at Strath- 

 carron is taken up principally by " Club Farms," of which there 

 are no fewer than seventeen on Mr Matheson's estates. This 

 " club" system is an excellent one. A tract of say 50 or 60 

 acres of arable land is occupied by four or five tenants, each 

 having his own separate croft, and attached to these 50 or 60 

 acres is a large outrun, upon which a " common" flock of sheep is 

 kept. The flock is not composed of so many belonging to one 

 tenant, and so many to another, as in the case of the ancient 

 commonty system, but is the joint property of these four or five 

 tenants. Two of the tenants are appointed annually to buy in 

 the sheep, manage them on the pasture, and sell them off at the 

 appointed time. A balance is struck every year, and the pro- 

 ceeds are divided equally among the tenants. Each club farm 

 has its own mark for its flock, which, in fact, is managed in every 

 way as if it belonged to one man. Of the seventeen club farms 

 on Mr Matheson's estates three are on the east coast and fourteen 

 on the west coast. The total number of tenants on these farms 

 is 101, the number in a club ranging from two to ten. The total 

 sheep stock is about 8000, and the arable area about 900 acres. 

 Blackfaced sheep principally are kept on these farms. 



In addition to all these gigantic agricultural improvements, 

 Mr Matheson has done a great deal in the way of planting. On 

 the east coast estates he has planted 5000 acres, divided into 

 56 plantations and 43 clumps ; on the west coast properties he 

 he has x>lanted 1500 acres, divided into 21 plantations and 12 

 clumps ; and thus he lias planted in all 6500 acres, every acre 

 of which is substantially enclosed. 



It is worthy of remark that among the first steps taken towards 

 improvement at Ardross was the establishing of a school in the 

 district. The school stands at the roadside, not far from the 

 castle, and is now attended by about 140 i)upils. The whole 

 population of the district, in 1847, was only 109. Great as the 

 land improvements have been they are not yet finished. At 

 Ardross there are at present two farms — Baldoon and Crannich — 

 in course of improvement, and it is in contemi)lation to form a 



