60 THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE 



acres are allotted to a pair. Servants are mostly single. ^len 

 get from £8 to £12, women from £3 to £5, boys from £3 to £5 

 per half year, exclusive of board. Oats are the most remunera- 

 tive cereal. 



We have now reached the western side of the county of Moray, 

 where the combined parishes of Dyke and Moy, which were 

 united in 1618, forms the connecting link beween Moray and 

 Xairn, and which stretches for a considerable distance on both 

 sides of the dividing line. Before going on to notice the system 

 of farming pursued in this parish, we may mention the principal 

 objects of historical interest. Darnaway Castle, which is said 

 to have been built by Thomas, Earl of Moray, is a magnificent 

 oblong building of great antiquity, and is notable for an ancient 

 hall of extraordinary dimensions, forming the back wing of the 

 castle, which is the summer residence of the present Earl of 

 Moray. The hall measures 100 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 

 about 90 feet high. Brodie Castle, the residence of Broclie of 

 Brodie, is built in an old English castellated style, and is also 

 notable for its antiquity. It is only a few miles west of Forres, 

 and is surrounded by clumps of trees and lovely pleasure 

 o^rounds. Perhaps the most interesting object is Macbeth's 

 Hillock, or the " blasted heath." It is said to have been the scene 

 of Macbeth's meeting with the three weird sisters of Forres, 

 while he and Banquo journeyed from the Western Islands to meet 

 King Duncan at Forres. 



The extent of the parish is 15,463*911 imperial acres, and 

 rental £7728, 8s. in 1866-67; its present valuation is £8944, 

 15s. The largest estate within the parish is that of Brodie of 

 Brodie. There are also a few less extensive properties. On 

 Mrs Ann Chadwick or Grant's propert}", Earnhill is the largest 

 and one of the most skilfullv worked farms. It extends to 280 

 acres arable, and about 120 acres pasture. The rental of the 

 farm was £542 in 1866-67, and the present rent is £630. Mr 

 Eichard Harris, the present tenant, has occupied this farm for 

 about thirty years, and is a distinguished agriculturist. The land 

 of the farm consists of good loam and light sandy soil. Mr 

 Harris breeds a few cattle, but feeds a good many more than he 

 rears. He also breeds a small flock of Leicester sheep, and buys 

 in sheep to feed. The course of husbandry pursued on the farm 

 is the six-course shift, viz., two grasses, followed by two corn 

 crops, a green crop, and then barley sown with grass seeds. 

 This system prevails on good lands. Mr Harris grows a few 

 mangolds occasionally, and uses a great deal of artificial feeding 

 material both for cattle and sheep. The cost of labour has risen 

 greatly during the past twenty-five years, but it has fallen con- 

 siderably since 1878. A ploughman gets from £15 to £16, with 

 a house and rations, in the half year. For turnip hoeing, hay- 



