ΤΟ

SIR JOHN SINCLAIR OF ULBSTER,

BARONET, M. P.

AND

PRESIDENT

OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

SIR,

THIS Volume is respectfully addressed to the distinguished promoter and patron of the important art to which nations owe their subsistence; of whom, in future times, it will be said, that he found means to diffuse among mankind a larger portion of useful knowledge than had been accomplished by any individual of his own or of any

former age.

I have the honour to be,

SIR,

Your most obedient,

And most humble Servant,

RO. FORSYTH

THE

BEAUTIES

OF

SCOTLAND.

THE

CAITHNESS, CONTINUED.

HE climate is certainly more rainy than that of the Climate, greater part of the eastern coast of Scotland, but not so

wet as that on the western side.

The rains are most fre

About the beginning of

quent in the spring and autumn.
January there is generally a fall of snow, which conti-
nues, in the upper district, to the end of February, and
sometimes, but very seldom, to the middle of March. In
the level country, particularly on the coast, the snow lasts
much shorter, which is attributed to the wind blowing in
the winter and spring months mostly from the north, the
east, and the south-east; all of which, coming from the
sea, have a tendency to bring on a thaw. In the month of
May a north-west wind generally blows; the sky is dus-
ky, with but little rain. The coldness of the weather at
this season is a great bar to vegetation; and in the eastern
parts of the country, where the soil is a mixture of black
earth and sand, and consequently rather tender, it has a ten-
dency to promote the increase of that species of vermine
called here the storee, which destroy the young plants of
VOL. V.
A

State of barley and oats, by cutting the roots below the ground, Property. The farmers preserve their young cabbage plants from these insects by dipping their roots in lime and water before they are put into the ground when they are transplanted.

Size of e

states.

Farmers.

The landed property of this county is held in nearly the following manner: Five estates are worth from L. 1000 to L.8400 per annum each; seven estates are worth from L.400 to L.600 per annum each; twelve are worth from L.100 to L.300 per annum each; six are worth from L.50 to L.100 per annum; and four below L.50 per anBesides these, the crown possesses property worth L.200 per annum; and the towns of Wick and Thurso

num.

are not included in this statement.

The lands are still occupied, in a great degree, by small tenants. The following is the old mode in which the rents were paid: The landlord received a trifling acknowledgment in money, the rent being principally paid in grain or victual, that is, bear and oat-meal. In addition to the rent, the tenants of that description were bound to perform the following services; namely, tilling, dunging, sowing, and harrowing a part of an extensive farm in the proprietor's possession; providing a certain quantity of peats for his fuel; thatching a part of his houses; furnishing simmons or ropes of straw or heath for that purpose, and for securing his corn in the barn-yard; weeding the land; leading a certain quantity of turf from the common for manuring the farm; mowing, making, and ingathering the hay, the spontaneous produce of the meadows and marshy grounds; cutting down, harvesting, thrashing out, manufacturing, and carrying to market or sea-port, a part of the produce of the farm. Besides these services, the tenants paid in kind the following articles, under the name of customs; namely, straw-cazzies (a