COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 63 



sequently come quicker into action than when it is deposited in 

 the bottom of the drill. From 5 to 6 acres of potatoes are laid 

 down with from 10 to 15 loads of dung, 2 cwt. dissolved bones, 

 and 2h cwt. of muriate of potash. Mr Brown has erected 

 about 2200 yards of wire fencing at his own expense since 

 1864, and also some sheds, for which the landlord afforded wood. 

 The cattle consist of shorthorns and crosses, of wliich some six 

 or eight are annually reared. Feeding stock are tied up about 

 the end of October, and are finished off with a little bruised 

 corn and cake about February, when they weigh from 6 to 7 

 cwt. Mr Brown used to keep 150 Cheviot ewes to breed from, 

 but they required more grass than was available for them, and 

 on that account they were disposed of. He now keeps half- 

 bred greyfaced hoggs instead. Horses are of the Clydesdale 

 breed, and are hardy, useful animals, working from 70 to 75 

 acres a pair on level ground. Wages for servants run from £9 

 to £13, with 33 stones of meal, and twopence worth of milk per 

 day, in the half year. In 1855 wages were about £3, 10s. under 

 the current fees. Where there have been no improvements 

 effected, rents have risen about 20 per cent., but where extensive 

 inprovements have been made, they have increased about 50 per 

 cent. Mr Brown says — "That all capable or managing tenants 

 should have freedom of cropping at least till within two or threfi 

 years of the expiry of their leases." 



TJte Upper Division of Morayshire. 



In continning our tour, we now leave what is known as the 

 " Laigh of Moray," and emerge into the upper division of the 

 county. We do not intend to go so minutely into the general 

 customs and farm management of the upper districts. The 

 farming systems are not so various as in the lower half, and 

 through the courtesy of the leading proprietors and tenants wo 

 are enabled to draw up a pretty full general notice, which will 

 doubtless suffice to indicate the different systems pursued. The 

 upper half may be said to extend to an area of 156,20r655 

 acres, but a considerable proportion of tliis is lieath or mountain 

 land. 1'he first parish on our journeying in a south-eastward 

 direction is l^dinkillie, wliicli extends to .*)2, 904-569 acres, and 

 reaches a total valuation of £6121, 10s. Tliereis a great deal of 

 wood, and most of the parisli is fertile, sharp soil, varying from 

 loam to gravel, and is generally well sheltered. Among the 

 most im})ortunt agricultural holdings is that of Mr James Sin- 

 clair, Xewton of Darnaway, which extends to 200 acres. T)ie 

 soil in this district is fairly good, and the average rental varies 

 from 25s. to 28s. per acre. The live-course sliilt is chietly pur- 

 sued, viz, two grasses, oats, turnips, nn I barley. On tlii'^ farm 



