57 



Dr. Gillespie goes oil to refer to the death duties as checking 

 the building and improvement of cottages. " The incidence of 

 the death duties in requiring the heir to landed property to 

 pay the equivalent of three years' rents, cripples the spending 

 power of new owners over a series of years to such an extent 

 that not infrequently, as I have learned from observation over 

 a wide district, fewer people than formerly have been employed 

 and rural depopulation has been increased." In conclusion 

 he adds that much has been done during the last two decades to 

 lessen the naturally dull monotony of country life by the pro- 

 vision of parish halls, libraries, reading-rooms, lectures, con- 

 certs, and various entertainments and games. 



INVERNESS. The decline is ascribed to the following 

 causes : 



(1) General depression among farmers owing to low prices, 

 causing them to put land under grass and in other ways reduce 

 the outlay on labour, especially in view of the high rate of 

 wages prevailing. 



(2) The clearing of sheep farms for deer forests. 



(3) The breaking up of large sheep farms into smaller hold- 

 ings, where shepherds are not required. 



(4) The refusal in some parts to give the labourer or cottar 

 land for his own cultivation. 



(5) The inducements offered for emigration to the Colonies. 



(6) The character of the education given in rural schools. 



(7) A preference on the part of the young for work in the 

 towns, fostered by increased travelling facilities, little induce- 

 ment being offered to remain in the country. 



(8) The high wages earned during the shooting season 

 enabling men to be largely independent of farm work. 



The last two causes are an additional reason for the laying 

 of land to grass. On the subject of education Mr. Cameron 

 writes : " This undoubtedly tends to make the country boy 

 discontented with his lot and with the monotony of country 

 life. It fires him with a desire to go south to the centres of 

 population. Formerly boys who had a decided taste or 

 liking for agricultural pursuits were encouraged by their 

 parents to indulge these tastes, and so from an early age they 

 acquired a knowledge and insight (which are now rare) into 

 the ways and habits of animals. Now, being compelled to 

 remain at school until the age of 14 or over, they acquire other 

 tastes and habits and lose their liking for their fathers' 

 occupation. Those who are to follow agricultural pursuits 

 should be allowed to leave school at an earlier age." 



KIRKCUDBRIGHT. The decrease is stated to be due to 



(1) The reduction of the cultivated area and the accompany- 

 ing increase of grass land, requiring a smaller outlay on 

 labour. 



