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Vol. I.
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201
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IN SCOTLAND.

201

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average of the whole that is ever ploughed is not above tenshillings per acre, and the pasture is below two shillings at ,a medium. The rent of both counties, as far as they lie onthe main land, is very nearly L. 300,000, or one-sixteenth partof the land-rent of Scotland .

In the 7th district, which includes the four counties of theNorth Highlands, the total extent is also nearly a sixth partof the whole area of Scotland . Its whole rent is aboveL. 160,000, or one-tliirtieth part of the rent of Scotland ;and the average rent of arable land is only about 6s.' 6dper acre: But in East Ross and Cromarty, the best arableland near towns is from L- 2 to L. 3 ; and in Caithness, near"Wick and Thurso , it is from L. 3 to L. 5, for small lots.Sutherland contains only a small proportion of arable land %and excepting on the east coast, does not pay a high rent.The mountain pastures are now, in many places, rented bysheep-farmers.

In the 8th district, or Hebrides , which contains nearly one-eleventh part of the surface of Scotland , the payment of therent depends chiefly on the kelp manufacture, the fishery, andthe price of live-stock. The whole rental does not much ex-ceed L. 100,000, or one-forty-eighth part of the rental ofScotland ; yet, near Stornaway , some fields are rented at L. 2Sterling; though the rent seldom exceeds 5 s. per acre, ex-cept where the kelp manufacture is carried on.

In the 9th district, the Orkney and Zetland Islands ,(which contain one twenty-third part of the surface of Scot-land, ) the rent of the land is still lower, not exceedingI,. 50,000 ; even when the skat, (the old duties to the crown)the feu-duties to Lord Dundas, the land-rent to the proprie-tors, and the profits from selling fish by the landholder, or hisfactor, are all included. Land is not here rented by the acre,but by very indefinite measures; and is valued chiefly from theportion of sea-coast for making kelp, and the profits of thefishery, yet some fields, near Kirkwall , are rented at L. 3per acre.