COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 53 



about one foot deep of 3-inch broken metal, and then the 

 final covering of soil, the object in putting the layer of broken 

 metal being to facilitate the absorption of surface water. This 

 is done only where the land is stift* and retentive. The drains 

 were cut 6 yards apart. About 8000 yards of fencing, -i 

 feet high, and with six wires, — the lower three being No. 7 and 

 the upper three No. 6 wire, — have also been erected on the farm 

 of Pitcraigie, and it is now securely fenced. The duration of 

 lease is nineteen years, with entry at Whitsunday, on conditions 

 similar to those of the Earl of Seafield's estates. It may be 

 mentioned, that with regard to building during the currency of 

 the lease, the tenants pay 5 per cent, of interest. A flock of 

 300 Cheviots is kept upon the farm of Pitcraigie, and the ewes 

 are crossed with a Leicester tup, the lambs being usually sold 

 for delivery at 12th August, when they bring from 24s. to 30s. 

 each. A few years ago a very excellent sheep cot, with lambing 

 sheds, wool store, and shepherds housB attached, was built. 

 This is one of the most useful and convenient buildin^-s on the 

 estate. Over this property the six-course shift is pursued, with 

 three grasses. On the farms of Pitcraigie and Barluack, both of 

 which are occupied by Mr and Mrs Dunbar, cattle have been 

 coming more into favour for the past four years. On the 

 former, about ten calves are annually reared from cross bred 

 cows and black polled bull ; and on the latter holding, which is 

 140 acres in extent, about 20 animals are annually fed, and ten 

 yearlings are kept in open courts. Mrs Dunbar Dunbar only 

 bought the farm of Barluack about three years ago, from the 

 Earl of Seafield, and since then 26 acres of it have been 

 drained, and about 2900 yards of wire fencing erected. It is 

 presently in the course of being limed, at the rate of 8 bolls per 

 acre. On the Glen Pothes estate about 100 acres of land have 

 been planted witli fir during the past twenty years. Mr H. 

 M. S. Mackay, Elgin, has been factor on these estates for about 

 five years, and during that time many of the improvements 

 mentioned have been carried out by his directions. 



To the south of the Kinloss estate, lies that of Burgie, the pro- 

 perty of the trustees of the late Mr Kobert Tulloch (for which Mr 

 H. M. S. Mackay, Elgin, is factor). It is wholly in the parish of 

 Piaffbrd, and is 2600 imperial acres in extent. Of these, 1290 

 acres are arable, 800 [)asture, and 510 under wood. The total 

 valuation of the estate in 1866-67 was £1166, 5s., ami in 1881, 

 £1445. Part of the land is a sandy loam on an open subsoil, and 

 part consists of a sharp gravelly and cold retentive soil resting 

 on a stratum of clay. The farms vary in extent from 40 to 410 

 arable acres. On the larger holdings the farm houses are in 

 excellent order, while those on the smaller farms are in tenaut- 

 able condition. The roads are uniforndv I'ood, and suitable for 



