Mr Menteath an the Geology of Nithadale. 5»S 



ington and Whitehaven ; and on the Scotch side the strata of 

 the coal formation (coal metals) shew themselves. 



No limestone has been discovered in the basin of Dumfries. 

 A little beyond its south-eastern extremity, as at Camlongan, 

 the limestone appears, but coarse and bad in quality. The 

 farther, however, we penetrate into Annandale, in its lower dis- 

 trict, it becomes better and more abundant. ;ii . 



Of the ores, no traces have hitherto been met with in the 

 basin of Dumfries. 



Here, as in the valley of Closeburn, the greywacke decays 

 into a soil which is a cold and stiff clay, requiring lime to loosen, 

 pulverise, and fit it for the growth of herbage. Not much, 

 however, of this kind of soil occurs in this basin, for the greater 

 part of it resting on the red sandstone, partakes of those quali- 

 ties that are usually observed in red sandstone districts. The 

 soil is generally light and gravelly. It requires much manure 

 and good husbandry to make such a soil productive. On the 

 western slope of the Tinwald greywacke hills, the soil is rich, 

 deep, and loamy, and may perhaps be considered the best tract 

 of soil in the basin of Dumfries. a 



It is a great hindrance to the more improved cultivation of 

 the basin of Dumfries, that no limestone has been found in it ; 

 all that is required for agricultural and building purposes being 

 either imported from Cumberland, or brought from Closeburn 

 or Barjarg lime works, or Kellhead, in Annandale. 



Thus we have pointed out a few of the most striking minera- 

 logical appearances, including those of soil, in the four basins of 

 Nithsdale, and we have found that each has some peculiarity. 

 The basin of New Cumnock, abounding in coal and limestone, 

 though at a considerable elevation, and with a strong, cold, ad- 

 hesive clay soil, is cultivated almost to the summits of the hills, 

 and inhabited by an industrious, active population, who have 

 availed themselves of their natural advantages, and have turned 

 their attention and capital to collect large dairies, which yield 

 them ample returns in butter and cheese. It cannot be doubted 

 that these improvements have, in a great measure, resulted from, 

 and been fostered by, the abundance and cheapness of lime, in 

 which this basin abounds. While, on the other hand, the San- 

 c|uhar basin, although it is lower, and consequently with a more 



