COUXTY OF STIRLING. 151 



At Ballocli Castle, Loch Lomond, near the borders of the county, 

 the annual depth of rain is 54'45 inches ; at Firkin, also near 

 Loch Lomond, it is 91*20 ; at Strathblane, Stirlingshire, it is 

 47*80 ; but at Polmaise, near Stirling, it is 37 ; and at Kerse, 

 near Falkirk, it is only 32*70 inches, or little more than in the 

 neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Often the] weather is fine in 

 the flat carse district, when rain is falling only a few miles 

 distant. In winter the higher grounds are covered with snow, 

 or sealed up with frost many times, when ploughing is in. pro- 

 gress near the banks of the Forth. In the west the excess 

 of moisture operates against successful cultivation of grain 

 crops ; but, on the other hand, the dropping climate is suitable 

 for grass and green crops, and makes the district well adapted 

 for dairy farming. In ordinary seasons, and where the soD. is 

 suitable, potatoes are successfuUly grown, and the facilities for 

 carriage by land and water are so good that a ready market is 

 found for all that can be produced. 



History and To])Ocjra]jiliy. 



In the county of Stirling there are not many large estates, 

 but there are some of medium size, and a large number of small 

 proprietors holding of a subject superior. Only the Duke of 

 Montrose and Mr Forbes of Callendar have more than 10,000 

 acres, and not more than seven other proprietors have 5000 acres 

 or upwards. Other two have 4000 to 5000 acres, other six have 

 3000 to 4000, six more have 2000 to 3000, and eighteen others 

 have 1000 to 2000, making forty-one altogether who have 1000 

 acres or upwards. A very large number of proprietors have less 

 than 100 acres, and many small feuars hold of a subject superior. 

 Apart from feus granted at a recent date, many originated in the 

 beginning of the eighteenth century or earlier, when the country 

 was unsettled, property was of little value, and landowners had 

 such difficulty in obtaining tenants that they were willing to let the 

 land on almost any terms. It was not unusual, then, for large 

 proprietors to parcel out tracts of land among their retainers 

 and their heirs for ever, at a rent equivalent to little more than 

 a moderate feu-duty. . Much land was thus alienated on the 

 estates of tbe Duke of Montrose, and the Earls of Mar, Men- 

 teith, and Glencairn. The Earl of Wigtown, who was o}>posed 

 to the Union with England in 1705, believing it would be 

 ruinous to the ccjuntry, disponed his extensive estates in the 

 parishes of Denny and neighbouring districts to his own tenants, 

 on condition that they would continue to pay the rents of that 

 time. Hence the great number of small proprietors in the 

 parishes of St Ninians, Denny, Campsie, Slamannan, and even 

 in the carse. 



