Book I. 



AGRICULTURE OF SUTHERLAND. 



1195 



rafters were xxseA In the construction of the new cottage, and 

 that which was abandoned, formed a valuable collection of 

 manure for the next crop. 



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

 blessing to Sutherland, but only increased this state of wretch- 

 edness, inasmuch as its cultivation required less labour. 



So Ions ^ t*^'* system 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 occasional 

 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 every 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 {,'eneral wealth of the community. 



The fundamental piinciple of agricultural improvement in this 

 case was derived from no speculative reasoninp, but from what 

 has actually taken place in a different but similarly circum- 

 stanced part of the kingdom. 



Jt is well known that the borders of the two kmgdoms were 

 inhabited bv a numerous popul.^tion, who, in their pursuits, 

 manners, arid general structure of society, bore a considerable 

 resemblance to that which existed in the highlands of Scotland. 

 AV'hen 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 

 removed, and the mountains were covered with sheep. So thai 

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

 stock farmers of those mountain tracts w hich comprise the 

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

 land, that such situations were peculiarly suited for the main- 

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

 guide, experience had still further prove<l, 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 considerably intersected by arms oif the 

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

 fairly concluded that this county was even better fitted for this 

 system of management than the heights of Perthshire and 

 Inverness-shire. The inferior elevation of 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 mountainout partt of the couvijf 

 into aneep-tral/ct was in this way rendered evident, provided the 

 people could be at the same time settled in.^ituations, where, 

 by the exercise 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. 



1134 



The principle of providing for the lower ctcut oftenanit by the 

 tttabliahment of fisheries was thus derived : It had long been 

 known, that the coast of Sutherland abounded with many 

 diflisrent 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. Besides the regular and continual supply of white fish, 

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

 annually visited by one of those vast shoals of herrings which 

 frequent the coast of Scot- 

 land. Itseemedasifithad 

 Veen pointed out by nature, 

 that the system for this re- 

 mote district, in order that 

 it might bear its suitable 

 importance in contributing 

 its share to the genera! stock 

 of the county, was, to con- 

 ert the mountainous dis- 

 tricts into sheepyyalks, and 

 to remove the inhabitants to 

 the coast, or to the valleys 

 near the sea. Several sea- 

 ports were improved by the -' 

 construction of piers {_fig. 

 1133. u) and break waiters 

 (6) ; and the plan of a town 

 being formed, the inn, 

 church, post-office, market- 

 place, and other public 

 buildings, were erected by 

 Lord Sutherland, and the 

 most liberal encouragement 

 given by loans of monev, 

 grants of land at little or no 

 feu duty, fee. to fishers, 

 manufacturers, tradesmen, 

 c., both on a large and 

 njaU scale, to come and 



settle there. Such is the policy of Lord Staftbrd'i opera- 

 tions, in which he lias expended, and continues to ex- 

 pend, independently of the cor.t of improvements on the 

 mansion (./ig-. 1134.) and park of Dunrobin, immense sums. 

 Happily the success has equalled the most sanguine expecta- 

 tions ; but for the very interesting details of execution, our 

 limits oblige us to refer to the work of Loch, which, as already 

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

 interest. 



