1^0 ON THE ayesiiii;t: breed of cattle. 



a sort of natural basin. Owing to its close proximity to the sea,, 

 the climate is somewhat moist, but far from unhealthy. The 

 rainfall is considerable, especially near the Isle of Arran, where 

 the clouds, being attracted by the lofty mountains, oftentimes 

 drop their moisture pretty copiously. The air is mild, not being 

 subject to such extremes as in the east of Scotland ; neverthe- 

 less, bitter storms from the Atlantic are sometimes experienced. 

 Eivers are numerous, their general direction being from east to 

 west, but few of them exceed thirty miles in length, many of 

 Lhem much less. The principal are — the Ayr, the Doon, the 

 Girvan, and the Stinchar. The geological features of the county 

 may be thus briefly defined : — Northward, from the river Girvan, 

 the Old Eed Sandstone occurs frequently ; and on the south, the 

 Lower Silurian strata chiefly prevail. The upper or superficial 

 soil is varied, consisting of clay soil, light or sand soil, and 

 about 300,000 acres of moss or moorland. The light or sandy 

 soil skirts the entire length of the coast, being interspersed with 

 a deep and fertile loam. The moorlands lie principally along 

 the eastern boundary, and are intersected with large mosses, 

 the principal of which are Aird's ]\Ioss, and j\Ioss-Mallock. The 

 latter lies partly in Lanark and Eenfrew shires. In the paiishes 

 of IMuirkirk and New Cumnock, which are in the eastern part 

 of the shire, more than half the land is moss. By far the 

 largest extent of the surface soil, liowever, is of a clay character, 

 M'hich varies much in its quality ; in some parts it is strong and 

 productive, while in others it is wet and cold, producing a 

 poor class of herbage, barely sufficient to keep alive a breeding- 

 stock, and totally unfit for fattening cattle. Notwithstanding 

 this, the county of Ayrshire occupies the second position in 

 Scotland as regards stock-breeding, being surpassed only by 

 Aberdeen. 



It may further be remarked that Ayrshire is naturally 

 divided into three separate districts, viz., Cunningham, which 

 embraces the whole of the surface from the river Irvine north- 

 wards to the confines of the county ; Kyle, the central division, 

 extending from Irvine southvrards to the Doon ; and Carrick, 

 which takes in the whole extent south of the Doon. Cunning- 

 ham is the district whence the improved breed of Ayrshire 

 daily cattle have sprung into existence. 



About three-sevenths of the entire area of Avrshire is in 

 cultivation. Oats form the principal crop. A little wheat is 

 raised ; and large quantities of potatoes are gro^\'n on the light 

 soils along the coast. Turnips and clover are also produced in 

 abundance. Nearly one-half of the cultivated land is devoted 

 to pasture, rather over one-fourth to clover, upwards of one- 

 sixth to oats, and the remainder to miscellaneous croj^s. 



