168 ox THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



there are several farms about 40s. and upwards, and yet these 

 lioldings cannot be said to be higher rented than many other 

 farms where the average does not exceed 25s. The rental of 

 sheep grazings is not lixed by the acre, but according to the 

 number of sheep the farm is estimated as capable of maintaining. 

 The rate ranges from 3s. to 5s. a head, and the average may 

 safely be put dow^n at 4s. 



Leases. — The system of granting leases seems to have been in 

 vogue in Eoss and Cromarty at an earlier period than in several 

 other counties in the north of Scotland, and there can be no doubt 

 that these forms of contract were the means of bringing about 

 great improvements in the early agriculture of both counties. 

 On some estates there are a few^ life-rent leases to original holders, 

 and fifteen or nineteen years to his successor, and leases of 

 twenty-one years' duration, while on others some farms are held 

 under fourteen or fifteen years' leases. A large number of the 

 crofters are simply tenants-at-will, but the great majority of 

 them enjoy leases of ten or twelve years' duration. A few have 

 even nineteen years' leases. 



Size of Farms. — The apportionment of the land of a county, 

 or, in other words, the size of its farms and crofts, is a matter of 

 the utmost importance ; and in this respect the counties of Eoss 

 and Cromarty will stand favourable comparison with most other 

 counties in the north of Scotland. The following table shows 

 the number of holdings of various sizes from 5 acres and under 

 to above 100 acres in extent in both counties : — 



Total. 

 6515 



The percentage of holdings under 20 acres is 87, of farms 

 above 20 and under 100 acres 9, and of farms above 100 acres 

 4. Eoss and Cromarty have double the number of crofts under 

 5 acres of any other county in Scotland ; stand sixth on the list 

 of holdings above 5 and under 20 acres, eleventh of holdings of 

 from 20 to 50 acres, seventeenth of holdings above 50 and under 

 100 acres, eighteenth of holdings above 100 acres, and second 

 w^itli respect to the total number of holdings, Aberdeen coming 

 first with a total of 11,656. 



Steam Cultivation. 

 Steam cultivation is only in its infancy in these counties, and 

 considering: that such a larsje extent of their arable land is well 

 adapted for cultivation by steam power, and that in other respects 

 their agriculture is so thoroughly abreast of the times, this seems 

 not a little strange. The advantages of steam cultivation are fast 

 becoming known and appreciated all over the country, and the 

 substitution to a lartre extent of steam emrines for horses in the 



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