412 
Sutherland Reclamation. 
many stone-drains were put in, at a cost of ~s. to 8s. per chain 
for cutting and filling. The stones were laid alongside the 
drain readv for use, a square open channel was built with four 
large flat stones in the bottom of the drain, and the smaller 
stones were then loosely filled in on the top. 
The existence of a field of limestone on the shore of Loch 
Shin within two miles of the works has been of the utmost value 
in the reclamations. Four kilns have been kept constantlv at 
work : but in addition to this it has been occasionallv neces- 
sary to obtain a further supply from other kilns in the far north, 
belonging to the Duke, at Erribol, near Tongue. This lime is 
brought by sea from Erribol to Helmsdale, and thence carried 
bv rail to Lairg. The quantity applied is usually 60 bushels 
per acre. 
The Shinness limestone was analysed in 1871 by Professor 
Anderson. He found it of somewhat inferior quality, contain- 
ing carbonate of lime, 64"35 ; carbonate of magnesia, 12-19 ; 
and silica, 20'11 per cent. The economy of carriage made it 
better to employ the weaker lime in large quantities rather 
than fetch bv sea from England better lime to be used more 
sparinglv. The burnt lime obtained from Erribol contains — 
Lime .. .. .. .. .. 70'o3 
Magnesia .. .. .. ., 22-48 
Iron and all umina .. .. .. 3* 
Silica 1-50 
Carbonic acid .. .. .. .. 2 '39 
'J9-90 
In February 18,74 the fields marked Xo. \h, Xo. 2, and X^o. 2a 
(Fig. 1, p. 411) were harrowed down, limed, and dressed with 
4 cwt. of superphosphate and 1 cwt. of kainite ; a part of the 
land also received a later dressing of nitrate of soda ; oats were 
sown in the end of April and beginning of May. The rest 
of this farm was brought under crop in 1875. 
Colabol Farm. — The following notes are the result of careful 
inspections of each field of this farm, made in July, 1877, 
September 1878, and August 1879 : — 
Xo. 1 (15 a. Or. 1 p.). This field has a good free yellow sub- 
soil, and is one of the best fields upon the farm : it was cropped in 
1875 with oats ; in 1876, hay ; aftermath stocked by cattle ; sheep 
were brought on to it from the hills in February 1876. In July 
1877 there was a good plant of grass; it was close fed without 
intermission till it was broken up by the '* discer " * in February 
1878 with excellent effect ; it was then harrowed, ridged, 
* This is an implement specially constructed for these works of reclamation ; 
a description and fignre of it will be found on p. 429. 
