COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIKN. 37 



1832-83, £13,999, ITs. This district has been immensely 

 improved during the past twenty-tive years, which has to be 

 ascribed as much to the enthusiasm of the tenantry as to the 

 enterprise of the landlords. Sir Archibald Dunbar, Bart., of 

 Northfield, is the principal proprietor. His estate in round 

 numbers is 2400 acres in extent, of which about 100 acres are 

 under wood. The rental in 1855 was £2995, 9s. 5hd., and in 

 1880, £3421, 18s. 6d. The land on this estate is chiefly alluvial, 

 but about 250 acres consist of adhesive clay. The size of farms 

 is genernlly about 130 acres, excepting a few small crofts near 

 the village of Duff'us, Some of these crofts have been held by 

 the same families for three generations without lease. Almost 

 all the houses on the estate have been slated and repaired since 

 1855, and many others built from the foundation. Fencing, 

 which is chiefly wire, has been erected by the tenants, for which 

 they get value before leaving. About 80 acres of the Loch of 

 Spynie hav^e been reclaimed since it was drained, and the land 

 is of an alluvial description, resting on a sandy bottom. The 

 proprietor puts up most of the farm buildings ; but in some 

 cases tenants erect cottages, and are paid for them at the end of 

 the lease. Most of the improvements are done by the pro- 

 prietor. On this estate 50s. per acre is the highest rental, 10s. 

 the lowest, and aboat 31s. the average. Kents are collected in 

 June and December. None are paid in kind. The increase in 

 the rental of this ])arish is greatly swallowed up by the increase 

 of public burdens. The taxes and public burdens in 1855 

 amounted to £556, 18s. l^d., and in 1880 to £655, 19s. 6d., 

 showing an increase of £99, Is. 4Jd. The estate is well pro- 

 vided with accommodation for the servants. Cottages have 

 recently been built on five farms. Servants are mostly 

 single. Tenants are not strictly bound down to any shift, 

 but the six-shift is followed on all the farms except one. 

 Cattle are principally cross bred, bought in autumn and sold 

 soon after Christmas. There are about a dozen crofts held 

 mostly by tradesmen. About 30 acres have been planted with 

 fir trees since 1855. Sir Archibald Dunbar holds about 50 

 acres of land in his own hands, adjoining Duffus House, and it 

 is sown out in permanent pasture for sheep. 



One of Sir Archibald Dunbar's largest farms is Waterton, 

 occupied by Mr James Young, and is 200 arable acres in 

 extent. In 18GG-G7 the rental was £300, and now it is £347. 

 Mr Young is a very exemplary farmer, being well acquainted 

 with his profession, both ])ractically and scientifically. He 

 manages other three farms along with his own, viz., Burnside, 

 280 acres; Covesea, fully 300 acres; and Wateryniains, adjoining 

 the farm of Waterton, 230 arable acres. About 140 acres of 

 iJurnside are sheep pasture, whicii is hemmed in on one side by 



