COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 89 



half tlie outlay in biiildinf^^s, wliicli consist f^enerally of timber 

 and slate, the tenant doing the other half. His Grace also pro- 

 vides his tenants with very large and excellent cottaojes at an 

 average cost of from £350 to £400, and charges the tenant £3 

 a-vear for them. On the Ballindalloch estates, where many 

 steadings and houses have been built since 1857, the proprietor 

 frequently provides wood and slates for building purposes free 

 of cost, and the tenant bears all other expenses without having 

 any claim for meliorations. Tenants usually pay interest at 

 the rate of 5 per cent, for money advanced for farm improve- 

 jnents. (Generally speaking, however, most of the necessary 

 Ijuildings are erected by the landlord at the commencement of 

 tlie leases without interest, the tenant performing the cartage of 

 all material free. On the Dutl'us estate the proprietor has 

 erected most of the farm buildings, but in some cases the 

 tenants have built farm servants' cottages, for which they are 

 !'eimbursed at the end of the lease, according to agreement. 

 The Earl of Moray's estate is exceptionally well provided with 

 iixcellent farm steadings of good size, and supplied with all 

 modern conveniences. The proprietor erected a great number of 

 them at his own expense, while the tenant had only to provide 

 building material. On this estate servants' cottages, which were 

 erected by the proprietor, are abundant. The Seafield estates 

 are also well provided for, by the proprietor, in the way of 

 liuilding; such improvements being carried out on similar con- 

 ditions to those on the other estates. The proprietors in Xairn- 

 shire have been equally liberal and zealous in the construction 

 of farm buildings. On the Cawdor estate the proprietor has 

 (lone a great deal in the way of building since 1857. He paid 

 for the cost of erection, and the tenant supplied materials. The 

 Lochdlm estate is also well su])plied with superior farm buildings. 

 Drains. — Nothing affords better proof of the great activity 

 that has characterised the fai-ming industry of Moray and Nairn 

 (luring the past twenty-tive years tlian the well-drained condi- 

 tion of tlie farms. In this work the industrious farmers of these 

 counties have had plenty of scope for their energies, while from 

 the landlords they have received substantial assistance. Although 

 the land in Mr)ray and Nairn is to a large extent of a thirsty, 

 sandy nature, draining less or more in every parish has been an 

 indispensable o])eration. Landlords have done a great deal of 

 draining at their own e.\pense in both counties, besides giving 

 every encouragement for its execution. The combined energy 

 and enterprise of the landlords and tenants in this as well as in 

 other res])ects liave improved the state of their lands very 

 materially during the interval of 1857-82. Sr)me twenty-tive 

 or thirty years ago wide open ditches like mitnaturt^ canals were 

 frequently to be met with in the " Laigh of Moray," and 



