COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 43 



to 20 loads of dung, and bsfore drilling a mixture of manure of 

 ^ cwt. Peruvian guano, 3 cwt. dissolved bones, 1 cwt. super- 

 phosphates, and Ih cwt. bone meal, — in all 7 cwt. is sown per 

 acre broadcast. Fifteen acres of light outlying land never gets 

 dung, but a mixture of artificial manure given instead, consisting 

 of 1 cwt. kainit, 4 cwt. dissolved bones, 2 cwt. bone meal, and 

 IJ cwt. superphosphates. A covering of farm-yard manure is 

 spread over lea intended for a potato crop in the autumn, and it 

 is then ploughed light. Besides dung, a mixture of 1 cwt. 

 muriate of potash and 2 cwt. dissolved bones is given per acre 

 before planting. The steading of the farm is perhaps second 

 to none in the county, both in respect of size and grandeur, and 

 was designed by Mr William Brown, factor for the Earl of 

 Moray. Its covers fully an acre of ground, and is built in a 

 most useful and convenient form. It has extensive accommo- 

 dation, is well apportioned, and was built a few years ago by 

 the proprietor. The tenant provided the building material. At 

 his own expense he erected upwards of three miles of substantial 

 wire fencing. From 30 to 40 cross cattle are reared every 

 year, and 100 fed. Those reared on the farm are sold off when 

 20 months old. They usually weigh about 6| cwt. each. 

 Turnips and straw form the staple diet until within a few 

 months of the time for disposing, when they receive an 

 allowance of corn and cake. The horses on the farm are strong 

 and good, and about 90 acres are allotted to a pair. Servants 

 arc mostly married, cottages being abundant. The ordinary 

 wages for farm servants range from £16 to £30, with 2 loads 

 potatoes, 6 bolls meal, and a supply of milk and coals. They 

 have increased fully 35 per cent., and rents about 15 per cent, 

 since 1857. Under the present circumstances, rents are too high. 

 The acreage under the respective crops are swedes 50, yellow 

 turnips 45, barley 100, and wheat 50. Barley is the most 

 remunerative cereal. Mr Colvin also occupies the farm of Burn 

 of Kothes, which is 240 arable acres, and has attached to it from 

 8000 to 10,U00 acres of hill pasture. It carries a breeding flock 

 of Cheviot ewes, generally numbering about 1800, and also a 

 Hock of the blackt'aced breed. A Leicester tup is allowed to 

 mix with the latter about the loth November, and with the 

 former about 20th November. The Cheviot wetlier lambs are 

 disposed of at the Inverness sheep fair, and the greyfaced lambs 

 are sold off later m the season. 



The farm of Kaster Manbeen, occupied by Mr Scott, has a 

 total area of 200 acres, and is all arable. The soil on it is 

 mostly liicht, and both the five and six shifts are adojtted. 



Another hour's walk, and we reach the parish of Birnie, whicli 

 stretches along the foot of the subordinate chain of primitive 

 mountain land which divides the upi)er half of the county 



