Book I. 



AG RI CULT CUE OF SUTHERLAND. 



1105 



rafters were used in the construction of the new cottage, Uid 

 that which was abandoned, formed a valuable collection of 

 manure for the nest crop. 



The introduction of the potato, in thefirst instance, proved no 

 Messing to Sutherland, but only increased this state ot' wretch- 

 edness, inasmuch as its cultivation required less labour. 



80 long as this svstem just describ d remained in full force, 

 no attempt could be made to improve or meliorate the situation 

 of these poor people. To better their condition, however ; to 

 raise them from such a state of continual poverty and occa-ional 

 want ; to supply them with the means, and to create in them 

 the habits of industry, was, and is the bounden duty of the 

 owners of even - such property. And it was not less their duty 

 to do so, because the same arrangement which was calculated 

 to produce this salutary effect, was at the same time the best 

 suited to increase the value of their property, and to add to 

 the general wealth of the community. 



The fundamental principle if agricultural improvement in this 

 case was derived from no speculative reasoning, but from what 

 has actually taken place in a different but similarly circum- 

 stanced part of the kingdom. 



It is well known that the borders of the two kingdoms were 

 inhabited bv a numerous population, who, in their pursuits, 

 manners, and general structure of societi , bore a considerable 

 resemblance to that which existed in the highlands of Scotland. 

 When the union of the crowns, and those subsequent transac- 

 tions which arose out of that event, rendered the maintenance 

 of that irregular population not only unnecessary, but a burden 



to the proprietor to whom the land belonged, the people were 

 removi d, and the mountains were covered with sheep- So tl at 

 it had been for a length of time proved by the experience of the 

 stock farmers of those mountain bracts which comprise the 



northern districts of England, and the southern parts o Scot- 

 land, that such situations were peculiarly suited for th< 

 tenance of this species of stock. Taking this example as their 

 guide, experience had still further proved, that the central and 

 western highlands of Scotland were equally well calculated for 

 the same end. Reasoning from this success, and observing 

 that the climate of Sutherland, owing to its vicinity to the 

 ocean, and to its being consider d> y intersected bj arms of the 

 sea, and much more moderate than this latter district, it was 

 fairly concluded that this county was even better titled for this 

 system of management than the heights of Perthshire ami 

 Inverness-shire. The inferior elevation ot* its mountains con- 

 tributed still further to this effect, and held out every encour- 

 agement to adopt the same course which had been pursued 

 with such success in both parts of the kingdom. 



The propriety of converting the mountainous parts of the county 

 into sheep-walks was in this wav rendered evident, provided the 

 people could be at the same time settled in situations, where, 

 by th_- ex Tcise of their honest industry, they could obtain a 

 decent livelihood, and add to the general mass of national 

 wealth, and where they should not be exposed to the recurrence 

 of those privations, which so frequently and so terribly afflicted 

 them, when situated among the mountains. 



The principle of providing for the lover class of tenants hy the 

 establishment of fisheries was thus derived : — It had long been 

 known, that the coast of Sutherland abounded with many 

 different kinds of fish, not only sufficient for the consumption 

 of the county, but affording also a supply, to any extent, for 

 more distant markets, or for exportation when cured and 

 salted, liesides the regular and continual supply of white fi^h, 

 with which the shores thus abound, the coast of Sutherland is 

 annually visited by one of those vast shoals of hertings which 

 frequent the coast of Scot- 



settle there. Such is the policy of Lord Stafford's opera - 

 tions, in which he has expendd, and continues to ex- 

 pend, independently of the cost of improvements on the 

 mansion (,pg. 1134 .J and park of Dunrobin, immense sums. 

 Happily the success has equalled the mo&t s-.nguine expecta- 

 tions ; but for the very interesting details of execution, . ur 

 limits eb'ige us to refer to the work of Loch, which, as already 

 observed (7795.), we consider of very singular agricultural 

 interest. 



land. It seemed as if it had 

 been pointtdoutby nature, 

 tl at the system for this re- 

 mote district, in order that 

 it might bear its suitable 

 importance in contributing 

 its share to the general stock 

 of the county, "was, to con- 

 vert the mountainous dis- 

 tricts into sheepwaks, and 

 to remove the inhabitants to 

 the coast, or to the vallexs 

 near the sea- S<,veral sea 

 p rts were improved b> the 

 construction of piers {Jig. 

 1153. a) and breakwaters 

 (b) ; and \he plan of a town 

 being formed, the inn, 

 chim-h, post-office, market- 

 place, and other public 

 buildings, were erected by 

 Loid Sutherland, and the 

 most liberal encouragement 

 given by loans of monev, 

 grants of land at little or no 

 feu duty, &c. to fishers, 

 manufacturers, tradesmen, 

 &c., both on a large and 

 small scale, to come and 



1134 



