EXAGGERATIONS. 1 97 



acre, so that £1000 per acre is not too high a cal- 

 culation. It is needless to say the above calculations 

 were to a great extent conjectural rather than matter 

 of fact, and the prices realised were estimated at more 

 than double what are now obtained. Perhaps the 

 greatest evil that results from such extraordinary state- 

 ments is, that they raise expectations which are sure 

 to be dashed to the ground, an ordeal which no one 

 likes to be subjected to. 



At one time, and up to about 1845, no larch her- 

 ring barrels were allowed by law to be made use 

 of. but now larch is known to be so cjood for that 

 purpose that it is more used than any other wood. 

 At one time it was thought to impart an unpleasant 

 taste to the herrings, but now it is considered that it 

 greatly improves their flavour. It was also said to be 

 so porous that it did not retain the brine, but now it is 

 found to retain it better than birch or alder, with the 

 additional advantage of having no black knots, which 

 render staves quite useless for retaining brine. 



At CuUen, about the year 1820, John Cameron, 

 or Highland John, a carter in the royal burgh, was 

 in want of a pair of cart trams or shafts. He applied 

 to the forester to have his wants supplied, who, liking 

 a timely joke, said, " John, there is a grand piece 

 lying at the Chalmers Slacks, just the right length and 

 proper bend, and every way suitable ; besides, to oblige 

 you, John, I will let you have it cheap." The piece 

 was got home, and forthwith made into the cart shafts, 

 and it does not appear whether the carter ever knew 



