478 
Sutherland Reclamation. 
were thrown on one side, so as to clear a space some 10 feet 
wide running from the road to the top of the field ; up and 
down each of these spaces a traction-engine with broad wheels 
was driven, and a smooth firm surface was thus obtained for 
carting upon. The road-trustees were then glad to fetch away, 
at their own expense, a considerable quantity of stone for 
mending their roads, and the rest of the stones were removed by 
hired carts, at a cost of 5s. per day for a man with his pony and 
cart. The carter is allowed to graze his pony, but is only paid 
when actually at work. 
Pipe-drains have been laid in the No. 6 field. In the fields, 
Nos. 2, 3, and 5, peats have been dug in the line of the drains, 
but as these will be burnt in the engines, the cost of digging 
them is charged to the trenching, and not to the draining 
account. It is intended to plant for shelter a strip of land run- 
ning from north to south through the farm, and also two short 
strips that will divide the fields Nos. 4 and 7, and Nos. 10 
and 12 respectively. No trees have as yet been planted, but 
the land has been fenced in. Wire fences will not be put up at 
Bannockburn, but the whole of the fences are of turf ; a cheaper 
fence, affording much more shelter and protection from the 
wind, but not so permanent as wire. These sunk fences, as 
they are called, consist of a ditch and dyke. The top of the 
dyke, and its side next the ditch, are faced with large turves, 
18 inches by 12, and the work commences with cutting out 
these turves along the line of the ditch. The following specifi- 
cation is given to the contractor, who undertakes to do the 
whole work at Go?, per lineal yard of fence. 
" The ditch is to have a minimum depth of 2^ feet, with a breadth at the 
hottom of 1 2 foot, and sloped outside to a breadth of 6 feet ; the inside of 
the ditch to have 10 inches of batter and 9 inches scarpment at the foot 
of the dyke. The turf for the dyke to be cut 18 by 12 inches, and built 2 feet 
6 inches in height without the cope, which will be 4 inches thick, and project 
2 inches to the front. Every course as laid to be well packed with the feet, 
and every second course as a through-band, and all joints broken. The loose 
earth at the back will be dressed to a uniform slope, and the entire work com- 
pleted to the satisfaction of the Inspector for the time being." 
When these fences are well made in the autumn or early 
spring, the turves grow together and the dyke-face becomes 
solid. It is impossible to make a good fence late in the spring 
or in the summer ; the turves become dried, the vegetation is 
killed, and there is no cohesion in the parts of the dyke. 
A well-made fence of this sort is sufficient to keep in sheep, 
but not Highland cattle. 
In carrying out reclamations by steam-power, it is best to 
put up at first only the outside fences of each farm ; as other 
fences would interfere with the movements of the tackle, they 
should not be erected until the land is reclaimed. 
