COUNTIES OF EOSS AND CEOMARTY. 169 



execution of the work of the farm we regard as the most import- 

 ant improvement in the counties of Ross and Cromarty during 

 the next quarter of a century. Steam j)Ower is far as yet from 

 being reduced to its proper simplicity as a cultivator of the soil, 

 but every coming year will bring it nearer and nearer to the point 

 so ardently desired, and by and by we hope to see the steam 

 tackle as indispensable and as popular an agricultural implement 

 (if it may be called such) as the reaper is at the present day. 

 With the view of introducing steam cultivation into Easter Eoss> 

 a few proprietors and farmers formed themselves into a sort of 

 an association in 1874 for acquiring a steam tackle ; and to raise 

 the necessary capital they assessed themselves at the rate of 10 

 per cent, on their agricultural rents. A set of Fowler's double 

 engine tackle was purchased, and let by contract to Mr Alexander 

 Bain, an enterprising young man in the district, who already 

 owned two or three portable thrashing mills and engines. The 

 main points in the agreement were that Mr Bain should annually 

 pay 5 per cent, interest, on the capital invested, and a further 

 sum of not less than 5 per cent, in the reduction of the capital ; 

 and that when he repaid the whole capital invested, with 5 per 

 cent, interest, the whole plant should be handed over to him 

 without any further charge, the subscribers reserving right, till 

 their cajDital is repaid, to a preferential use of the tackle on the 

 same conditions as those offered to the general public. Mr Bain 

 began his work under this arrangement in the autumn of 1874, 

 and as yet the system has been found most satisfactory. A few 

 years previous to the formation of this association the Duchess 

 of Sutherland brought a set of Fowler's tackle to the home farm 

 at Tarbat, but not till last year, when she also acquired a set of 

 Fowler's baby double engine tackle, was it used off the home 

 farm. It is now offered for hire when not required at Tarbat 

 House, and finds abundance of employers. About three years 

 ago Captain Grove of Invercharron introduced a set of Fisken's 

 tackle and worked it on his own farm till last year, when he dis- 

 posed of it to a company formed for the purpose of hiring it out 

 in the Bonar Bridge district. There is thus at the present time 

 two sets of Fowler's double engine tackle and one set of Fisken's 

 steam-plough tackle in regular employment in Easter Koss, in 

 addition to four or five thrasliing mills and traction engines ; and 

 there is every probability of the force being considerably increased 

 Ijefore many more years have passed. Almost the whole of 

 Easter Boss is very well adai)ted for cultivation by steam, and 

 the only drawback is that the high price of coals (usually above 

 I'Os. per ton) makes the cost rather high. The district roads and 

 liridges are not very suitable for the shifting about of the tackles, 

 but these small dilUculties are fast being overcome. As yet 

 steam power lias been employed most largely in }>reparing the 



