COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 69 



their crofts from year to year without a lease. Several hundred 

 acres of wood have been planted since 1857. Sir George farms 

 extensively himself. During the past twenty-five years not only 

 has the Morayshire property been vastly improved, but through 

 the great interest which Sir George takes in the welfare of his 

 tenantry, and latterly the energy of Mr Douglas his factor, the 

 whole estates, both in the counties of Banff' and Morav, have 

 been greatly improved and enhanced in vaUie. 



On the Ballindalloch estates there are many well-managed 

 and highly-productive farms. In the parish of Knockando tlie 

 soil is variable, but, generally speaking, pretty equally divided 

 between loam and light gravelly land. The farm of Tomlea, 

 tenanted by Mr George Younie, is very carefully and judiciously 

 managed, and the soil is partly good, but the climate is cold 

 and late. It extends to 80 acres arable and 20 or 30 acres 

 pasture. The rental over the districts varies from 18s. to 20s. 

 per acre. Mr Younie is bound to the five-shift rotation. The 

 returns of crops in a good year are as nearly as possible from 

 5 to 6 quarters barley and oats, the former weighing from 54 

 to 56 lbs. and the latter from 42 to 44 lbs. per bushel. The 

 land for turnips is ploughed deep soon after harvest, and is 

 harrowed and ploughed, and harrowed again before it is drilled. 

 About 24 loads of dung with 5 cwt. dissolved bones are given 

 per acre. Yellow turnips scarcely get so much artificial manure 

 as swedes. Potatoes are planted only in such quantities as to 

 meet home requirements. Mr Younie has improved about 26 

 acres since 1855, and the proprietor built a dwelling house, upon 

 the outlay for which the tenant pays 5 per cent, interest. The 

 cattle of this farm are black polled. Six animals are bred every 

 year, and four are bought in, and all except the cows are sold when 

 two years old. Farmers in this district breed far too few cattle. 

 Horses are not heavy as a rule, but are hardy useful aninuils. 

 Seldom does a first class entire horse travel the upper districts, 

 and consequently farmers have not a good chance of improving 

 the breed. More strength is required to work the land than in 

 the " Laigh of Moray," and the general allotment is a pair to 

 about 50 acres in the Knockando district. Almost all the 

 foremen servants are married, with houses, meal, and fire, and 

 £24 a year. In 1853-54-55, Mr Younie paid the first man 

 £10, £16, and £18 resi)ectively in the year, with the same 

 allowances as :ire now given. Rents have risen about 20 per 

 cent, since 1852. Freedom of cropping wouhl be practically a 

 great Ijenetit to farmers. There were no swedes grown in this 

 district prior to 1852. 



The Spey does not form the dividing line between the counties 

 of IJanil' and Moray until near Fochabers; and the greater part 

 or 7047*230 acres of the parish of lioharm, tluuigh on the ea«^tern 



