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a mucli larger proportionate surplus over the cost 

 of working. This alone accounts for all the rise 

 of rent which has accrued on the more comfortable 

 possessions, whilst on many of the smaller crofts the 

 increase of rent has been almost nominal as compared 

 with the real increase of value. 



Another test of rental may be taken from the careful Test of rental 

 survey and valuation made in 177 1, at which time the 

 Island was calculated to hold 2488 " soums" of cattle. 

 This represents the same number of cows, and double 

 the number of young cattle. Now, as the average 

 rental of a good Highland cow with its *' followers" 

 upon such pastures is at present about ;^3, it follows 

 that the stock fed by the Island of Tyree, without 

 allowing anything for the improved pastures gained by 

 drainage, and the improved facilities of management 

 gained by fences, would represent a rental of ^7464 

 — which is a great deal more than the whole rental 

 of the Island as it stands at the present moment. 

 Moreover, it is to be observed that this calculation 

 excludes all the other produce of the Island — the 

 sheep, horses, and pigs, the barley, oats, potatoes, and 

 eggs, which it produces in abundance. Farther still, 

 it is to be noted that Ayrshire cows have been largely 

 substituted for Highland cattle, and that one A3^rshire 

 cow is worth about double the rental which is taken 

 above as that for a Hio-hland cow. I have reason to 

 believe that there are in the Island not less than 247 

 Ayrshire cows, 2155 Highland cattle, 6500 sheep, 651 

 pigs, and 588 horses. It is curious that this amount 

 of stock, calculated at rates somewhat below the 

 market value, and allowing nothing at all for either 

 horses or pigs, represents a rental almost exactly the 



