COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 73 



paid on entering it eighteen years ago. He thinks that farmers 

 might work the six-shift system more advantageously than 

 the five-course shift on medium soil, but not on very heavy land. 



We have omitted to mention, however, that about two miles 

 below the village of Eothes is the pass of Sourden,near to which 

 is the famous Haugh of Dundurcas. The farm of Dundurcas, 

 occupied by Mr Mantach, contains some 200 acres of good deep 

 loam. The extraordinary flood of 1829 did not deprive this farm 

 of its rich surface so much as it did to those lying further down 

 the river, and consequently the land is as fertile as it is deep and 

 friable. Mr Mantach, like mostly all the other tenants along 

 that side of the county, adopts the five-shift course, and is a 

 careful breeder of cross cattle, which he generally disposes of fat 

 when two vears old. 



A little further down the river we reach the farm of Collie, 

 the outmost farm in this direction, on the Seafield estates, which 

 is tenanted by Mr Sutor. solicitor, Elgin. The land consists of 

 a medium loam dispersed with patches of gravel and light sandy 

 soil, being particularly light along the river bank. The farm is 

 in capital order, and produces good crops of barley, oats, and 

 turnips. Mr Sutor has not grown wheat for a few years, but 

 sows barley instead, which, when grown after second year's 

 grass, is found to be very suitable. The farm-yard manure is all 

 spread in drills in the turnip break at the rate of about 20 yards 

 per acre, along with 8 cwt. of artificial manure, composed of bone 

 flour, ground coprolites, and mineral superphosphate. The cattle 

 kept are the ordinary crosses, and are sold off fat in spring 

 when two years old. Each cow generally fosters two calves. 

 Mr Sutor for some years has kept a flock of high bred border 

 Leicesters. His ewe stock consists of about five score, which 

 have principally descended from rams of the Kinochtry stock 

 which he purchased some years ago at the Aberdeen annual sales. 

 The tups are sold annually as shearlings. A large lot of them 

 averaged £16, los. Id. this year (1882). They only get artificial 

 food about three weeks before being sold. Mr Sutor has l)een 

 an extensive exhibitor of sheep. In 1881 he won the first prize 

 cup and special prize at Elgin. The whole of his horses are 

 pure bred, and eligible for the stud book. He has been also a 

 successful exhibitor of horses. At Elgin, Aberdeen, and the 

 Highland and Agricultural Society's shows, in 1874 and in 1875, 

 he won the first prize for brood mares. He also gained many 

 other creditable prizes. Mr Sutor is not an ailvocate for com- 

 pensation for une.>:hausted manures — as a lawyer merely hn 

 would welcome such a measure, — but insists that tenants shouiit 

 have freedom of cultivation, free sale of their produce and 

 subjects, and at the same time be bound to farm in accordance 

 with the rules of good husbandry. 



