COUNTIES OF ELGIN AND NAIRN. 



23 



The rapid development of the resources of the soil has 

 naturally led to a corresponding advancement in the improve- 

 ment of agricultural implements. These counties have made 

 marked progress in this respect. Ploughs have been remodelled, 

 chain or link harrows have been introduced, and are now pretty 

 oxtensively used. Double-furrow ploughs have been success- 

 fully wrought on several of the larger farms in both counties, 

 while steam cultivation has been pursued to some extent. 



In order to show the position vdiich these counties occupy 

 among other counties in Scotland, in respect of the agricultural 

 improvements executed during the past twenty-five years, 1 

 subjoin in tabular form a comparison of the extent of cultivated 

 area and the number of cattle and sheep between the years of 

 1854 and 1880, thus:— 



The decrease in the first column, in whatever county it occurs, 

 is accounted for by tlie inclusio?i in 18S0 of tracts under 



