416 
Sutherland Reclamation. 
1877, turnips ridged with dung and artificial manure — a fair 
crop, eaten by sheep ; 1878, Sandv and Swiss oats, sown 
broadcast after the sheep, and merely harrowed in by horses 
and oxen. A heavy crop of the Sandy oats ; the Swiss oats, 
a much lighter crop, ripened a fortnight sooner. Although, in a 
later season, the early maturity of the Swiss oats is a great 
recommendation, it will not be sufficient, taking the average ol 
seasons, to make up for the great deficiency in the weight of 
grain and straw. It may be well, however, to grow a field or 
two of this variety on each farm in the far north, so as to com- 
mence harvest-work before the main crop is ripe. As soon as 
the stubble was cleared, hoggets were turned out on the young 
seeds. After the snow had gone, the land was steam-rolled, it 
has since been fed by sheep and light cattle. The grass is now 
good, although a little injured by the treading of the cattle. 
No. 6 (32 a. 1 r. 34 p.). In 1876, oats, very poor ; 1877, 
oats, top-dressed with 2 cwt. dissolved bones and 2 cwt. super- 
phosphate — a fair crop ; 1878, grass, grazed by sheep and cattle 
— a fairly good plant. In 1879 this grass had much improved, 
and the clover was beginning to cover the ground. In the 
previous winter sheep were fed here w ith cake and straw. A 
feeding experiment was conducted last winter in this field on 10 
wether hoggs, 10 ewe hoggs, and 20 dinmonts (i. e. young wethers 
of 18 months old) ; during the long period that the ground 
was covered with snow each of these sheep received 15 oz. of 
cake per diem with straw, the total cost per head being 85. 6f/. ; as 
soon as the snow was gone they were all sent to the hills. Many 
persons expected that the hand-feeding would unfit them for 
roughing it, but, instead of this, they proved at clipping-time 
to be the best sheep on the farm. This experiment is very 
encouraging, showing that by the judicious use of decorticated 
cotton or other cakes the sheep and the land may be alike 
benefited. 
During the progress of the reclamations the men were housed 
in wooden and iron bothies. Five of the wooden buildings 
remain as labourers' cottages, and there are also four stone-Hjuilt 
cottages on the farm. The farm-buildings are built of stone 
taken from the land, and are roofed with \\ elsh slates. Thev con- 
tain stabling for 10 horses, stalls for 24 head of cattle, two yards 
yvith covered sheds, a root-house, cart-shed, and barn. The fields 
are divided by wire fences with birch-wood posts. A beech- 
wood fence has been planted on each side of the high road run- 
ning through the farm. The tenant has erected on this farm 
a very convenient set of yards and shedding for dipping, 
marking, and dividing sheep. 
The reclamation of Colabol extended over a period of three 
