( 7 ) 



degree, and recommended the erection of strong divid- 

 ing dykes, with conditions prohibiting the practice. 



Another signal example of the contrast between Two farms then 



crofts or small farms as recommended by the skilled held by one tenant, 



*^ and fit only for ten 



and intelligent reporters of 1 769 and the miserable subdivisions, after- 

 possessions which subsequently arose from the impro- Y^^^^ !!^^"P^^^, ^^ 



^ ^ ^ . 7 . . . -"^ 69 crofters, and 



vident habits of subdivision, is furnished by the ex- still by 30. 



ample of the two farms of Balephuil and Balemartine. 

 These two farms are mentioned as having been " for- 

 merly " held by one tenant, who was at that time the 

 factor or chamberlain : and the reporters recommend 

 that if they are to be divided the total number of divi- 

 sions should not exceed ten. Yet on these two farms 

 the reckless process of subdivision went on subsequently 

 to such an extent that there were no less than 

 sixty-nine crofters — all of the poorest class. At thisi 

 moment there are still thirty, which is exactly three j 

 times the number which the reporters of 1765 could 

 recommend as enough to live comfortably and pro- 

 fitably on the land. 



The next document of importance is dated seven Conditions of 

 years later — in 1 776 ; and it is very instructive. It is ^^^^^^ ^^ ^77^. 

 a draft of *' Articles, Conditions, and Eegulations to 

 be observed by the Tacksmen who have obtained 

 leases of Farms on the Island of Tyree." It appears 

 from this paper that in Tyree, as elsewhere in the 

 Hiofhlands, the small tenants were still holdino; and 

 cultivating in what was called "runrig," and is still 

 called in Ireland " rundale," that is to say, under a 

 system of management which is absolutely incompat- 

 ible with the very first germs of agricultural improve- 

 ment. The possession of each tenant was divided into 

 innumerable separate little plots of land — none of which 



