26 THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



as they are disposed of another lot of ewes is bought in. This 

 pays remarkably well. Besides supplying the sheep of the farm 

 with turnips, Mr Ann and lets from 12 to 15 acres every year at 

 from £6 to £7, 10s. per acre. About 80 acres of land are 

 allotted to a pair of horses. One-sixth of the farm is annually 

 under turnips, of which two-thirds is Swedish, two-sixths under 

 grain crops, the half of which is barley, and the other half wheat 

 and oats. In a good season wheat is the most renumerative 

 cereal. 



In moving westwards there is much fine scenery to attract 

 the eye. Clumps of wood are to be seen on every hand. Emerg- 

 ing out of the Speymouth parish, we enter into that of 

 Urquhart, where there is also a considerable breadth of good 

 land, but it is lightish in some parts. The climate is early 

 and w^arm. The average rental varies from 17s. to 19s. per 

 acre. Near to the village of Urquhart lies the well-managed 

 farm of Innesmill, tenanted by Mr John Brown. The area of 

 this farm is 105 acres, and is wholy arable. There is a deal 

 of light land on it. Contrary to the general rule in this district, 

 Mr Brown works the six-shift course, and finds it to be the most 

 profitable system. The average yield of all kinds of grain 

 generally is about 4J quarters per acre, but it is usually over 5 

 quarters on Mr Brown's farm. In preparing the land for turnips, 

 Mr Brown ploughs heavy in autumn, ploughs again in April, 

 and grubs if the land requires it. He does not approve of 

 much grubbing. About 15 loads of farm-yard manure are given 

 per acre, along with 10 bushels crushed bones and 3 cwt. light 

 manure. The general rate of manuringr in the district is not so 

 high. Mr Brown grows only a small extent of potatoes, and 

 after preparing the land the same as for turnips, gives about 10 

 loads of dung and 3 cwt. of light manure per acre. Since the 

 present tenant entered the farm in 1865, he has drained and 

 limed a good deal, and enhanced the value of the farm consider- 

 ably. He keeps cross bred cows and a shorthorn bull, breeds 

 about two-thirds of his stock, buys in the other portion in the 

 end of the year, and ties up his feeding cattle about the end of 

 Sept(!mber. He sells his queys when six quarters old, each 

 weighing 5 cwt. The stots are kept until they are two years 

 old, when they generally weigh about 6^ cw^t. Turnips and 

 straw constitute the principal aliment, and a little corn and cake 

 are allowed to the feeding stock before sending them away. 

 Mr Brown finds that home-bred animals thrive best. There are 

 very few flocks of sheep kept in this district. Generally, as on 

 this farm, a pair of horses w-ork about 60 acres. The rate of 

 wages has advanced fully 30 per cent, on Innesmill. There is 

 a rise of rent since 1857 in some cases, but not universally, 

 throughout the parish. Mr Brown suggests at least one change 



