COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 33 



20 to 25 loads of farm-yard dung and from 4 to 5 cwt. 

 artificial manure per acre. Land for potatoes is prepared in 

 Che same manner, and 20 loads of farm-yard manure is allowed 

 per acre, along with from 3 to 4 cwts. of artificial stimulants. 

 Orops yield variously, — barley and oats from 4 to 5 quarters 

 per acre, the former weighing from 57 to 59 lbs. and the latter 

 from 45 to 47 lbs. per bushel. The soil is light, and climate 

 mild and early. The rotation is the five-shift system. The 

 proprietor erected an excellent farm house a few years ago. 

 As to the breed of cattle, Mr Calder has no particular class, 

 but breeds from 16 to 20 annually, and sells them off when 

 one year old, with the exception of a few which he feeds during 

 winter. The feeding material consists of turnips, straw, draff, 

 bruised corn, and oilcake. When fat the cattle usually weigh 

 from 5 to 7 cwt. Being in proximity to Elgin, Mr Calder 

 keeps a dairy, and supx)lies a good proportion of the inhabitants 

 of the burgh with milk. 



Passing onwards, the next parish we enter is that of Drainie, 

 which is 7254-206 acres in extent. Its valuation in 1866-67 

 was £10,424, 5s., which when contrasted with that of 1882-83, 

 shows an increase of £2013, 4s. The greater part of this parish 

 lies low, and the soil is of a mixed and variable character. 

 Generally, however, it is a lightish loam, pretty sandy in some 

 parts, and dark loam in others. There are considerable knolls 

 of wood to be seen at different points. The largest landed 

 proprietor in Drainie is Sir William Gordon Gumming, Bart. 

 The estate of Captain James Brander Dunbar Brander of 

 Pitgaveny, which is about 3000 acres in extent, of which there 

 are about 2000 acres arable land, 800 acres rabbit links, and 

 about 200 acres wood. According to the valuation roll, the 

 land property was worth £1952, 3s. in 1866-67, and in 1882-83, 

 £2155, 13s. A-bout two-thirds of the arable land on this estate 

 consists of fine black loam like garden soil, and about one-third 

 light sandy loam. The largest farm on the estate is Coulard- 

 bank, wJiich is 498 acres in extent, including links, and the 

 smallest 60 acres. In all, there are eleven farms on the property, 

 besides 100 acres let in parks at Lossiemouth. A good many 

 steadings and houses have been built during the past twenty- 

 five or thirty years. At present there are only the houses of 

 one farm out of repair, and arrangements are being made for 

 their renovation. Fencing is done by the tenant, and is chietly 

 composed of wire. The loch of Spynie has been drained since 

 1855, adding some 40 or 50 acres to the arable land, which 

 liefore were an unsightly marsh, and worth very little. The land 

 being light, is worth only about 10s. per acre now. It has not 

 ])aid the interest of the money expended in reclamation, but it 

 greatly benefits the drainage of the neighbouring farms. Cap- 



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