170 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



turnip land, and the plough is used only to a very limited extent. 

 The stubble land is steered by the " digger, " or (where there is a 

 hard pan) by the " knifer " in autumn, and allowed to lie ex- 

 posed to the frosts during winter. In spring it is easily and very 

 efficiently broken up by the cultivator and a double overgoing 

 by steam harrows ; and thus little if any horse power is required 

 in preparing the turnip land for drilling. Digging or ploughing 

 by steam to a depth of from 9 to 12 inches costs about L.l per 

 acre, exclusive of coals and water and attendance, which are 

 equal to an additional 10s. per acre ; cultivating with double 

 harrowing costs from 15s. to 17s. per acre, exclusive of coals, 

 water, &c. ; and harrowing single tine from 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d., and 

 double tine from os. to 7s. 6d. 



Buildinfjs, Roads, Fences, and. Drains. 



Buildings. — What has been done in the way of building on 

 the various estates during the past twenty-five or thirty years 

 has already been noticed pretty fully, and therefore little 

 remains to be said here. A few general remarks, however, may 

 be added. Probably in no feature of the agriculture of the 

 counties of Eoss and Cromarty has there been greater improve- 

 ment during the past thirty or forty years than in the houses of 

 farmers and crofters. Previous to 1840 houses generally, both 

 on farms and crofts, were of a very primitive description ; and 

 during the period that has since elapsed almost every farm- 

 steading and dwelling-house has been either built anew, or 

 greatly improved and enlarged. The improvement in the crofters' 

 houses has not been so marked all over both counties, but in the 

 majority of districts, especially on the east coast, these small 

 abodes have been most thoroughly renovated. On several 

 estates a good deal still remains to be done, and in almost all 

 these cases the work is proceeding speedily. We have already 

 referred to the great number of beautiful little properties 

 throughout the county of Eoss ; and on these, as a rule, the 

 mansion-houses are comparatively new and extremely pleasing 

 in architectural appearance. The grounds and gardens around 

 them have been laid out at great expense, and these picturesque 

 little spots tend greatly to enliven and beautify the landscape. 

 Throughout both counties there are a number of very fine old 

 family seats, surrounded with magnificent ancestral trees and 

 tastefully laid out gardens. During the past twenty-five or 

 thirty years a great many handsome shooting lodges have been 

 erected, chiefly on the west coast and in the glens of the hills of 

 Eoss-shire. Most of these are let to sporting tenants, while 

 others are retained as summer residences for their proprietors 

 and their families. The dwelling-houses on the larger farms are 

 of a very superior class, many of them large, handsome, imposing 



