Account of Improvements carried on in the County of CAITHNESS in the year 1803.

From Henderson's View of the Agriculture of Caithness.

TH

Improvements of Wastes.

HIS most important object was carried on to a considerable extent, during the year 1803; preparations having been made for that purpose previous to the war breaking out. The dryness of the summer was favourable to burning, a species of improvement of important consideration. On the whole, in the course of the last season, probably above a thousand acres might be put in a progressive state of cultivation, of which about 430 were in the hands of one proprietor.

The best system of improving commons, that have a good depth of soil, with a rough surface, and that is capable of being burnt, is now pretty well ascertained, in so far as regards this Northern District. The land should be ploughed in the winter months, cross-ploughed in the Spring (that the clods may not be crumbled to pieces by the winter frosts,) and burnt in summer; the ashes then spread, and ploughed in; and early next year, after being well harrowed, should be sown with oats and grassseeds. In a better climate, the burning may take place earlier, and oats or bear may be sown the first year; and where sheep are abundant, a crop of turnips may be taken, but, on the whole, the plan above mentioned is the best that has hitherto been attempted in this district; tho' slow, yet, being done gradually, requires few cattle and servants, and is sure of success. There is no other mode by which many thousand acres of waste land in this county could possibly be brought in, with nearly the same advantage. To give such land a sufficient dose of lime, would require from 57. to 10% per acre, ac

cording to the distance of conveyance; whereas, by this system, the expense does not exceed from 27. to 31. per acre; and the first crop of oats alone will pay the whole expense of the improvement, including the inclosure.

Commons. An extensive common having been divided not far from the town of Thurso, a considerable part of which, though rather elevated in point of situation, yet was capable of cultivation; one of the proprietors, whose share amounted to above 2000 English acres, was anxious to try what could be effected for the im provement of so valuable a tract. The whole was, in the first place, divided in 50 lots, varying, in extent, from 12 to 20 acres, and upwards, according to circumstances, and the divisions marked by the plough, which was itself a troublesome business. Three modes of improvement were then adopted. 1. Some lots the proprietor himself undertook to improve, by paring and burning, in the manner already described, in order to provide. settlements for some small tenants, to be removed in the neighbourhood. 2. Some lots were let to new improvers, who became bound to cultivate them at their own risk and expense; and, 3. A number of other lots were annexed to the neighbouring farms, under the obligation of improvement, Where this plan is practicable, it is certainly an excellent mode of improving commons, as a farmer has many advantages, which it is unnecessary here to point out, for bringing in, at a cheap rate, the waste lands in his vicinity. One spirited improver (Mr George Miller, of Whitefield, near Thurso) deserves to be particularly commemorated upon this occasion. Observing the success of the new modes of improving waste lands, which had been introduced into the county, he offered a rent of 40%. per annum, for about 200 Scotch acres, in that part of the common which happened to be in his neighbourhood,

The

The lease is rather long, namely, for 31 years; but it was desirable to encourage an active and judicious improver, who began ploughing his new farm almost before the ink was dry upon his lease; and though the land was intrinsically valuable, yet this was the first instance, in that part of the kingdom, of drawing such a rent from a tract of land that formerly had yielded nothing.

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Sheep Farming. It was generally believed that Caithness was but ill adapted for a sheep stock; and when not only sheep were introduced into the Highland parts of the county, but also so superior a breed as the Cheviot, it was foretold, both in the southern and in the northern parts of Scotland, that the plan could never answer, and that it would necessarily be attended with considerable loss. The attempt, however, has been most succesfully carried on for several years; and, with a view of ascertaining the practical effects of the experiment, the grazings that were put under sheep were advertised to be let. The commencement of a war is certainly an unfavourable time for let ting land, more especially at such a distance from the metropolis; but the success of the sheep system, in those parts, was so uncontrovertibly established, that some of these grazings, which ten years ago had only paid 877. 16s. a year, were let at 6007. per annum; and, in the opinion of intelligent men, were worth 100/. more. It was thought adviseable, however, to give peculiar encouragement to the rst farmer (Mr James Anderson,) who resolved to carry on a new system, on so extensive a scale, in so remote a district; more especially, as he was likely to do ample justice to the plan. A higher rent will be obtained for the other grazings still to be let in the same neighbourhood; and, on the whole, there is reason to believe that no agricultural improvement has hitherto been made, with

more profitable results; a tract of country having been thus raised from a rent under 200%, to above 1200!. per annum.

It is earnestly requested, that Highland Proprietors, more especially those with moderate incomes, will make themselves masters of a plan, which experience has thus sanctioned; and by which, at a moderate expense, they will not only render themselves and their families opulent, but will likewise greatly promote the industry, and increase the wealth of their country.

Cattle. The introduction of the best breeds of cattle into a district, according to the various purposes for which they are destined, is a most important mean of improvement, which cannot be too anxiously attended to. Several experiments, with that view, have been tried in Caithness, in the course of this season: among the rest, Colonel Williamson has introduced the Argyll breed, which there is every reason to hope will answer. Mr Paterson has brought some oxen from Aberdeenshire for ploughing, and some cows from Buchan have been sent north, of a sort, considering their size, famous for the quantity of milk they produce. It is proposed to com pare this breed with the Ayrshire cows, so celebrated for the Dairy, some of which have been brought by Mr Dunlop to the neighbouring district of Strathnaver.

Improvements by small Tenants.It is certainly desirable, to preserve, as much as is consistent with the im provement of a district, its old inhabitants, who are attached to it by many ties, and who might not for some time feel themselves equally comfortable in other situations. It is difficult, however, to adhere to this principle, where the tenants are poor in

circumstances, have little skill in Agriculture, and have not even cattle or instruments of husbandry calculated for carrying on any proper system

of

of cultivation. A plan, however, has been fallen upon, which tends in some measure to obviate these objections. Some small tenants have been prevailed upon to enter into an agreement with a considerable farmer in their neighbourhood, by which he engages to plough for them, the waste land attached to their farms, at the rate of fifteen shillings per Scotch acre, the price not to be exacted until a twelvemonth after the work is executed, when they will be enabled to pay the expenses from the crops they raise. The plan has been so much approved of, that the small tenants in one district have had about 50 acres of waste land ploughed for them on this system, in the course of this season. Their own miserable cattle, and instruments of husbandry, could never have broken up such a soil, but when once it is properly ploughed, they are able to manage it tolerably well by their own exertions; and in process of time they will probably become more opulent, and abler to do justice to their farms.

Towns and Villages.-The increase of towns and villages is one of the surest signs of the prosperity of a country; and in this important particular, the county of Caithness is not deficient. Several houses have been built this season in the new town of Thurso. The village of Castleton, erected by Mr Trail, goes on prosperously; and it is impossible to pass through that thriving place, without feeling much satisfaction at the industry that seems to prevail there, and the contented looks, and comfortable circumstances, of the inhabitants. A new village, called Brodie's Town, from the name of its spirited founder, is rising on the eastern coast of the county, in a situation admirably calculated for the herring-fishing. Some progress is making in the erection of a village at Halkirk; and it is expected next year, that the British Fishing Society will make some exertions towards es

tablishing a fishing settlement on the feu it has obtained from Sir Benjamin Dunbar in the neighbourhood of Wick.

Roads and Harbours.-The attention that has lately been paid to the improvement of the northern parts of Scotland, must do infinite credit to the Legislature of this country, if the measures they have chalked out are prosecuted with proper zeal and energy. A foundation has thus been laid for a new system, not of foreign, but of domestic colonization, which will be found infinitely preferable to the cultivation of distant settlements. By the acts which were passed, certain sums were granted for carrying on the Caledonian Canal, and for making roads, and building bridges, in the northern counties, under the direction of Commissioners appointed to oversee the expenditure of the money, but they were enacted too late in the season, to expect that much could be done in carrying on such great undertakings, in the course of the present year. In consequence, however, of the correspondence that has been established between the Commissioners and the Gentlemen of Caithness, there is reason to hope, that considerable progress will be made in the course of the ensuing season. It cannot be doubted, if this district were made accessible, and proper roads of communication carried through it, that it would soon rival more southern districts in various descriptions of improvement.

It is proper here to add, that a thousand pounds have been granted, from the public funds of Scotland, for erecting a harbour at Wick; and there is every reason to hope, that that important undertaking will be carried on with proper spirit in the course of next year. As Wick is the true centre of the deep-sea herring fishery, the erection of a harbour there is perhaps one of the most important. objects to which the public attention

could

could be directed, or in which the public money could be employed. Miscellaneous Articles.-1. The establishment of a woollen manufacture, at the new village of Halkirk, has taken place this year. The machinery has been already erected, and from the prices which Mr Walker, the manufacturer, has demanded, the Farmers in the neighbourhood are satisfied, that they cannot manufac. ture their wool so cheap, by their own servants, as by him; whilst, at the same time, it is done by his machinery in a manner greatly superior.

2. This year also, a post-chaise and a pair of horses have been set up by Mr Ryrie, innkeeper at Thurso, which is likely to answer. It is singular, though there had been some attempts to keep post-chaises at Inverness, yet that they were all given up in the year 1773. Mr Ettles set one up in 1775, which was then the only one so far north. There are now seven kept in Inverness alone, one or two at Tain, and one at Kessock. It is proposed to have, next year, a Diligence on the Highland road from Perth to Inverness and it is to be hoped that, in due time, the plan will be extended to Caithness. The advantages of having such modes of conveyance, from one end of the kingdom to the other, are inestima

ble.

3. Mr John Reid, of Heathfield, near Thurso, laid down a small field of bear, which he could not get sown till the 24th of June last: it was cut down on the 24th October, and produced upwards of ten returns of good merchantable grain. It would probably have produced two or three seeds more, had it been sown earlier; but this experiment tends to prove, that in very unfavourable seasons, a crop of bear may be laid down much later than is commonly imagined, and with the prospect of a handsome return.

4. A limework is intended to be carried on, on the estate of Major In

nes of Sandside, which it is hoped will be a source of great improvement to all that neighbourhood.

Receipts for making CURRANT-WINE. From Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticul

tural Society.

AMONG other prizes announced by the Caledonian Horticultural Society, for the years 1810 and 1811, honorary premiums were proposed for the best currant-wines; and it was required, that each competitor should send an account of the method enployed in preparing the wine. In consequence of this proposal, medals were awarded to several different Ladies, as will be seen from the list of prizes published in the 1st Number of these Memoirs, p. 24; and the following are the receipts which were given in with the three wines which were adjudged to be the best in each of these two years.

September 1810.

No. 1.-" To every English pint of the juice of fully ripe white currants, were added two English pints of cold water, and one pound of raw sugar.

"The fermentation was promoted by gentle agitation every day for eight or ten days. But no article was added to promote fermentation.

"When it appeared from the taste, that the liquor had obtained the pure vinous state, without either great sweetness on the one hand, or any obvious acidity on the other, which state was acquired in about the space of a month, the further progress of fermentation was checked by the addition of a small quantity of pure ardent spirit. One bottle of good whisky, free from any peculiar flavour, was added to 20 gallons of the wine.

"After this, the cask was bunged up, and allowed to remain at rest for six months. The pure wine was then

racked

racked off from the sediment, into another cask, in which it was allowed to remain twelve months before it was bottled.

"The wine now sent to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, marked Vino pellite curas, was prepared in autumn 1805, so that it is at present five years old.

No. 2.-The wine to which the second prize was awarded, was mark. ed On n'est jamais trop vieux pour apprendre. The following was the receipt which accompanied it:

"One Scotch pint of currant juice; one Scotch pint and a half of water; three pounds of sugar; half lump sugar, and half soft sugar.

"Mix them together in a tub, then fill your barrel. What is over, keep for filling up, as it works over ; but it is better not to fill up more than twice. When done working, add one Scotch pint of aquavitæ or brandy, to twenty pints of the fermented liquor.

"The wine sent, is flavoured with a small quantity ofclary wine,the growth and manufacture of Drumsheugh." No. 3.-With the wine marked Beatus ille qui procul negotiis,

-Horna dulci vino promens dolio, Dapes inemptas apparet. the following receipt was sent :

"Squeeze the currants, when fully ripe, through a hair-searce. To every Scotch pint of juice add two of cold water; and to every Scotch pint of liquid so mixed, a pound and a half of raw sugar. Dissolve the sugar thoroughly in some of the water before it be put into the barrel. It will begin to work in twenty-four hours. Fill it up every second day with sugar and water made very sweet, (about one pound of sugar to a Scotch chopin of water,) first taking off all the scum with a spoon.

"If the weather happen to be very hot, and if the fermentation go on very briskly, filling up every third

day will do better than every second day. When the fermentation is over, bung it up close, and paste brown paper over the bung. Put leather between the bung and the barrel, to keep it very close. Bottle it nine months afterwards."

September 1811.

No. 1.-The first prize was adjudged to wine marked The true Falernian, with which the following receipt was transmitted:

the

This currant-wine was made in year 1805, in the proportion of one English pint of currant-juice to two of water, with one pound of sugar; but with the Dutch red currant, which the makers of it consider as a great improvement, from the effect which that kind of currant has, both on the colour and taste of the wine; and on that account it ought certainly to be more cultivated.

"Wine made of the Dutch red currant does not require any spirits; and will keep as well as any foreign wine."

No. 2.Was marked Veritas, and according to the sealed letter which accompanied it, the fruit, sugar, and water, were as under:

"To every Scotch pint of juice, a pint and a half of water; and to every pint of the mixture, a pound and a half of sugar."

No. 3. Was marked Noble deeds are done by wine. According to the receipt sent, it was prepared in the following proportions.

"One English pint white-currant juice; one English pint water; and one pound of raw sugar.

"At the end of ten days, the fermentation was moderated by the addition of a little malt spirit."

September 1812.

For the year 1812, a prize-medal was offered for the best home-made wine without the use of any imported material excepting sugar.

Thirty-two different kinds were presented to the Society, many of