70 THE AGRICULTUEE OF THE 



side of the river, lies within the county of Moray, and so does 

 also 1883*767 acres of the parish of Keith. In Boharm there 

 are several good farms, which are well managed and highly pro- 

 ductive. The farm of Auchroisk, tenanted by Mr L. W. Fraser, 

 extends to an area of 170 arable acres and some 30 acres of 

 pasture. The average rental of the district is about 24s. per 

 imperial acre. The soil is various, consisting of black loam, 

 gravel, clay, and moss. The average yield of barley on Auchroisk 

 is from 4-| to 5 quarters, weighing from 54 to 56 lbs. ; oats, from 

 5 quarters to 6^ quarters, weighing from 39 to 44 lbs. per bushel. 

 There is no wheat sown in this district. The five-shift system 

 of rotation has been prevalent in this parish for the last twenty 

 or thirty years, and in the unanimous opinion of the farmers has 

 reduced the fertility of the land very considerably. The soil re- 

 quires more rest ; and if rents were reduced in accordance with 

 the condition of the land, the six or seven course shifts would be 

 universally practised hereafter. This would be a very desirable 

 change in the system of farming, from the fact that it would 

 lessen the expenditure for manure, and also enrich and fertilise 

 the soil. Land for turnips is sometimes dunged before being 

 ploughed in the autumn, but most frequently immediately before 

 sowing in spring. The cattle on this farm and in the district 

 generally are a cross breed between a shorthorn bull and cross 

 bred cows. The staple diet is turnips and straw, and feeding 

 cattle are finished off with a little cake and oats. About fifteen 

 years ago three-year-old cattle were mostly used for feeding pur- 

 poses ; but since grain and other sources of remuneration have 

 been of so comparatively little value, farmers could not afford 

 to retain cattle so loug, and therefore, in order to meet demands 

 upon them, farmers have had to fatten and dispose of them when 

 they are about two years of age. Sheep from further inland 

 districts are extensively wintered in this parish, but no regular 

 flocks are kept. Horses are good, and work at the rate of 60 

 acres a pair. The average wages of ploughmen run from £9 to 

 £13 per half-year with rations. In 1876 good ploughmen were 

 getting from £17 to £18 in the half-year. Eents have risen 

 from 30 per cent, to 40 per cent, in this district since 1850. 

 They are in many instances too high, considering the unfavour- 

 able climate. 



The farm of Bush, tenanted by Mr Gray, is 160 arable acres 

 in extent, and is laboured in the six-shift system. The soil is 

 sharp and thin. Oats after lea always bulk best, and the grain 

 weighs from 40 to 43 lbs. per bushel. Land for turnips is twice 

 ploughed in spring, and gets from 18 to 20 loads of dung along 

 with a mixture of bones and bone meal to the extent of from 4 

 to 5 cwt. per acre. The proprietor advanced money for drain- 

 ing from 70 to 80 acres of land, for which the tenant pays 



