66 



ON THE AGRICULTURE OF 



Geology — Soil. 



The main features of the geological formation of these 

 counties may be indicated in a few sentences. The Grampian 

 range is composed mainly of primary rocks. The tops are 

 formed almost wholly of granite, but, descending the southern 

 and eastern slopes, we find the primary rocks associated with 

 small quantities of those belonging to the transition formation, 

 layers of gneiss, mica schist, and quartz being interspersed 

 with small deposits of limestone and clay-slate. A slate vein 

 runs along the hill sides, from a little north of Stonehaven to 

 Easdale, Argyle, and is nearly all the way accompanied by a 

 dyke of trap, or whinstone, which gives value to the soil and 

 beauty and variety to the scenery. The slate comes to the 

 surface at several points, and in some parts, notably in Fearn 

 and Lethnot, it has been quarried. The valley of Strathmore 

 is one long bed of Old Eed Sandstone. The Sidlaws, in Forfar- 

 shire, and the Garvock Hill, and the other lower hills further 

 north in Kincardineshire, are composed mainly of trappean 

 rocks, with several important deposits of greyish blue sandstone 

 slate, which is of excellent quality for pavement, and w^hich at 

 Carmyllie and elsewhere is quarried extensively for local use 

 and also for exportation. At various points throughout both 

 counties there are deposits of limestone. In Forfarshire it exists 

 in Clova ; Glenesk ; in some of the Sidlaw valleys ; at Hedder- 

 wick, near Montross ; and at Bodden in Craig. In Kincardine- 

 shire, it is found at Clattering Brig ; at Drumtochty and Glen- 

 farquhar in Fordoun ; at Whistleberry, Kinneff; at Mathers, 

 St Cyrus ; at Kirtonhill, Marykirk ; and at Tilwhilly and else- 

 where on Deeside. At several of these places the limestone 

 has been extensively worked for many years. At Bodden it 



