170 . THE AGPJCULTUEE OF THE 



On the neighbouring farm of Spittalhill, occupied by a brother 

 of Mr Cowan, there is a pure and rather famous blackfaced 

 flock. On this farm Mr Cowan and his father before him have 

 been successful in getting good prices for tups, which are pur- 

 chased regularly by old customers. The spare ewe lambs are 

 also sold for good prices. Mr Alexander Norris, Todholes, 

 adjoining Spittalhill, also on the estate of the Duke of Montrose, 

 conducts operations on the same principle, selling his young 

 tups and his second ewe lambs. Mr Tod, Binns, is one of the 

 most extensive farmers on the Duke's estate, and has a large 

 flock of pure blackfaced sheep. He has extensive meadows, 

 with the hay of which he winters 100 head of cattle, besides 

 about 40 cattle wintered outside. Mr James Cowan, Gartcarron, 

 has Leicester tups and blackfaced ewes. All these hill farmers 

 have Ayrshire cows, though not in large numbers, and winter a 

 few Highland cattle, which graze outside all winter. 



Tenure of Land — Cajpital Required. 



Leases generally are for nineteen years, sometimes with breaks 

 at five and seven years ; but in some cases a lease of nine years 

 has recently been adopted. In the south and west of the county 

 the term of entry is at Whitsunday ; in the north and east at 

 Martinmas. Small holdings are in some cases occupied from 

 year to year. Turnips and straw are not usually allowed to be 

 sold, except in the case of the last crop, when they are offered 

 at valuation to the incoming tenant, and, if not taken by him, 

 can be sold otherwise. All necessary improvements are usually 

 done in the county by the proprietors ; and in some cases it is 

 said that proprietors pay one-third of the lime put on carse land 

 during the seventeenth year, and one-half what is put on in the 

 eighteenth year of the lease. On some estates there is a disposi- 

 tion to make leases less restrictive than formerly, and in some 

 instances farmers are allowed to take their own way, provided the 

 land is kept in good order. The capital required for entering an 

 arable farm is £10 to £12 an imperial acre. In the central district 

 the rent of the best carse land is from 50s. to 60s., and in some 

 cases more, an imperial acre ; of medium land 30s. to 35s., and 

 of inferior land about 15s. an acre. In the upper districts the 

 rent of the best land is from 30s. to 40s. an imperial acre ; of 

 medium 24s., and of inferior 12s. 6d. In the eastern district of 

 the countv the rent of best carse land is from 60s. to 80s. ; of 

 dryfield, 40s. ; of high and inferior land, 10s. to 24s. ; and of 

 waste or moor pasture land, about 4s. an acre. Farm rents are 

 in some cases paid in grain according to the fiars prices, but this 

 is chiefly in old leases. Eents of grass parks are very fluctuat- 

 ing. Grazings on the Ochils are let at 8s. to 10s. a sheep, other 



