1804. Retrospective Plcw of Agriculture — Caithness. 3 



though slew, jet, beiiig done gradually, requires few cattle 

 and servants and is sure of success. There is no other mode 

 bj which many thousand acres of waste land in this county could 

 possible be brougiit in, with nearly the same advantaf^e. To 

 give such a land a sufficient Joze of lime, v/oald require from 

 5I. to 10 1. per acre, acco^'ding to the distance of conveyance ; 

 whereas, by this system, the expence docs not exceed from 

 2 1. to 3 1. per acre ; ai'.d the first crop of oats alone will paj'- 

 the whole expence of the improvement, including the in- 

 closure. 



2. Paring and Burning. 



Several skilful hands were brought from Westmoreland this 

 year, in order to carry on the system of paring with the breast- 

 plough, and then burning the turf thus obtained. In all, a- 

 bout TOO acres were treated according to this plan. From the 

 thinness of the turfs, several acres of land thus prepared, 

 might have been burnt, and laid down v/ith oats in the course 

 feven of this year ; but unfortunately the men v^ere detained at 

 Leith for about three weeks, waiting for a conveyance by sea 

 to Caithness, and consequently were too late in coming. Little 

 do those who live in the southern part of the kingdom know 

 the disadvantaj^es under which their northern brethren endea- 

 vour to rival tliem in improvement. About 50 of these acres 

 were pared and burnt, with a view of providing for some small 

 farmers, whom it was necessary to remove, in order to con>- 

 plete the cultivation and inclosure of an extensive tract of 

 country in the neighbourhood. Thefe farmers are continued 

 in their old posses.s-'ons till Whitsunday next, when they re- 

 move to their ncv/ farms. The 50 acres is to be cropped hj 

 the proprietor, v.hich will entitle them to the beneiit of the 

 straw ; and some acres are also to be laid dov;n Vv'ith grass- 

 seeds for tliem. They are also to have about 50 acres of va- 

 luable pasture, adjoining to .their arable land. Their lease is 

 for 15 years. The rent is suiTiciently moderate, namely, 

 3s. per acre for the first five years, 6s. for tlie second five, ard. 

 9s. for the third five, and half as much for the pasture land. 

 But though the rent is lovv, yet that i.i compensated by the 

 satisfaction of establishing a new colony of farmers, on a bar- 

 ren waste, on a system that is likely to encourage their exer- 

 tions, and which, at any rate, will necessarily promote the 

 improvement of that part of the country, 



3. Fen Husbandry. 



It was of the greatest importance to try the fen system of 

 husbandry, near the sheep farms established in this county, 



A 2 with 



