134 Dr Murray mi the Natural History of Alford. 



more than twenty miles from that city, and not a less distance 

 from every other maritime point. It consists of seven parishes, 

 namely, Alford, Tough, Keig, TuUynesle, Forbes, Cushnie, 

 and Lochell. These form a tract, in circumference perhaps 

 thirty miles, divided by a hilly interrupted ridge, running from 

 the upper part of the parish of Alford to the opposite extremity 

 of Tough into a flat portion, about five miles long, and less in 

 breadth, called the Valley of Alford, and a hilly portion of 

 greater extent, which may be named the Hilly Part of Alford *. 

 The following paper, the result of observations begun some 

 years since, during my residence at Alford as a practitioner of 

 medicine, and, for the most part, committed to writing before I 

 left that quarter, consists chiefly of an account of the native ve- 

 getable productions ; - and, upon this part, the merit of the me- 

 moir (if it possesses any) must in a good measure rest. On 

 other branches I do not venture to aim at being complete ; and 

 not professing to give a full history of the district, I feel at li- 

 berty to select my own subjects, and pursue them only to the 

 length I may deem proper. Regarding the face and nature of 

 the country, some observations are to be made, which will, I 

 trust, be found in themselves not entirely devoid of interest ; 

 and they will, probably, render the botanical remarks more ac- 

 ceptable. 



Physiognomy of the Cowntry. 



Alford, as it is remote from any great road leading to much frequented 

 places, is less known to strangers than most parts of Britain. At an earlier 

 period it seems to have possessed few attractions, and, indeed, to have been 

 behind almost every spot in Scotland ; but now, in regard both of fertility 

 and scenery, it is above mediocrity. The valley, seen from its upper part, 

 under favourable circumstances, presents a view not a little imposing, parti- 

 cularly to those who have seen it from certain other stations, where the pros- 

 pect is, in comparison, tame and uninviting. To a spectator, placed, in a 

 clear day of summer or early autumn, on the hill of Caillievar, the vale of 

 Alford, made up of its fields and woods, with the winding Don, having the 

 mansions of various proprietors on its banks, the scene terminating in the 

 seat of Lord Forbes and the striking hill of Bennochie, — affords a prospect 



* When the whole district without distinction is alluded to, I have simply used the term Alford. 

 This explanation is necessary, because that term is used in many different senses ; as, besides the ' 

 maaning just mentioned, it is sometimes applied to the parish and sometimes to the valley of Al- 

 ford ; and, in an account, published a few years ago, of the diseases of that quarter, I used it to de- 

 note a space larger than the valley, but less, than the tract which in the present paper is termed 

 Alford. 



