Report on some features of Scottish Agriculture. 213 
potatoes. This is manag^ed bj taking oats on an old ley, and fol- 
lowing with roots, which are again succeeded bj oats and seeds. 
The seeds generally remain three years, sometimes only two ; 
and occasionally a field has been laid down without a crop, or 
with rape, remaining for perhaps twenty years, if it continued to 
pasture well. 
The climate does not suit clovers, therefore nothing but peren- 
nial rye-grass is sown ; but, owing to the large rainfall, natural 
grasses make their appearance after the first year, and sometimes 
even earlier. Seeds are never mown, but are pastured by sheep 
the first year, and afterwards by cattle. The sheep put on this 
grass are frequently inferior wedders, which it is desired to bring 
up to the average standard ; but the seeds are also grazed by the 
tup-lambs and tup-hoggs. After roots it is usual to give the 
land a good dressing of lime, about 3^ tons per acre, previous to 
sowing the oats and seeds ; but the care to obtain good pasture is 
not confined to liming, for the turnip crop receives 3 cwts. of dis- 
solved bones and 2 cwts. of Peruvian guano in addition to farm- 
yard-manure, if any is left after dressing two acres of land for 
potatoes with 25 tons per acre. 
Oat-sowing generally commences about the end of March, no 
less than 4J bushels of seed being used. " Early Hangers " is 
the sort preferred for the best land, " Sandy " oats for medium 
soils, and common white oats for the poorer fields. In 1869 oats 
sown on March 28th were reaped on August 16th ; and in 1870 
those sown on March 26th were cut on August 10th, but both of 
these were very early years. 
About 8 acres of turnips are grown annually, including some 
on the island. Aberdeen Yellows are generally sown, at the rate 
of 4 lbs. per acre ; they are always drawn, heaped on the ground 
in small quantities, and covered with turf •or earth. 
Sheep. 
There are six "hirsells"* in Mr. Mitchell's occupation, and in 
1869 they supported an aggregate of about 5000 sheep, as 
follows : — 
1. Blairvockie, 750 : one-half ewes, one-fourth hoggs, and 
one-fourth wedders. 
2. Ben Lomond, 530 : ewes, hoggs, and wedders in about 
equal proportions. 
3. Craig, 1450 : 700 ewes, 400 hoggs, and 350 wedders. 
Carried forward 2730 
* A " hirsell " may be regarded as a hill-farm of itself, bounded generally by- 
crests of hills, and not too large to be managed by one shepherd. 
