22 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURE OF AYRSHIRE. 



as cultivated laud ; the remainder being hills, moors, mosses, 

 lochs, roads, &c. We may reckon about one-third of the pastoral 

 hills and moors, as good dry grazing-grounds ; the other two- 

 thirds being spongy moor, heather, or moss-hags, with occasional 

 dry grassy-patches intervening. Plantations of all ages and 

 kinds are included as cultivated lands, and there are large ex- 

 tents of thriving wood throughout the shire, especially in Kyle 

 and Cunningham. The total acreage under wood is estimated 

 at 40,000 acres. 



During the sixty years elapsed of this 19th century, the 

 population of Ayrshire has considerably more than doubled. In 

 1801 the population was 84,207 ; and by the last census of 1861, 

 it was 198,971. The present parliamentary constituency of the 

 county is 4091, being the largest (we suppose) in Scotland. 

 The valued rental of the county for year 1864-65, was £762,661, 

 apportioned amongst the three divisions as follows, — Cunning- 

 ham £330,887, Kyle £291,545, Carrick £140,229 ; and being- 

 exclusive of about £120,000 for railways, and £105,000 for the 

 three parliamentary burghs. 



SECTION I. 



General Aspect — Woodland — Soil— Climate, &c. 



The surface of Ayrshire is very diversified, and yet upon the 

 whole somewhat tame ; boasting of nothing sublime in scenery, 

 but still a large choice of pleasing landscape. No part of it can 

 be strictly termed level, as almost every field undulates more or 

 less. From the surface abounding in swelling knolls and low 

 rounded hills, dotted and streaked with thriving planta- 

 tions and hedge-row timber, from much old woodland on the 

 " banks and braes " of the many rivers, burns, and glens, and 

 from the very numerous county seats of the landed proprietary, 

 all embosomed in large extents of wood, as well as most of the 

 farm-steads being more or less surrounded by belts of planting, 

 the face of the county generally has a highly ornamental 

 appearance. For fine river scenery and woodland, there are 

 few counties, if any, in Scotland, that could match the following 

 walk — namely, starting above Sorn Castle on the water of Ayr, 

 and thence down the river via Ballochmyle, Barskimming, 

 Failford, Coilsfield, Enterkine, and Auchincruive. The two 

 divisions of Cunningham and Kyle, mostly rise from their sea- 

 borders in easy acclivities and wavy-champaign country, till 

 terminating in an expanse of pastoral moorland and hill towards 

 their north and eastern verges. The only part of their coasts 

 where bold and rocky, being for a short distance at Portincro>s, 

 in West Kilbride parish. But within the past 25 years, coal- 

 mining and iron-smelting have vastly outgrown their former 



