I'i SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



one hand, and those of the Lothians on the other, and occupies a space of about 

 one hundred and thirty-six square miles. Within the last fifteen years the 

 plough has gained very considerably upon the pastoral and hilly parts ; where, in 

 several instances, tracts of unprofitable heath have been converted into corn- 

 fields. Plantations have been also multiplied, and thus continuing to shelter 

 and diversify the more bleak and exposed acclivities, the landscape of twenty 

 years since has acquired a fresh and daily accession of picturesque as well as 

 profitable consideration, and had a pleasing disguise thrown over the stern, 

 and generally sterile features of its former self. 



Lammermoor forms the third and northern division of the county, and 

 comprises, as the name intimates,* an extensive sheepwalk. In point of soil, it is 

 much less favoured than the preceding districts ; the hills — isolated laws — reach 

 an elevation of 1 500 feet, or upwards ; and, according to the exposure, present 

 a variegated surface of heath, peat-bog morass, and furze — striped here and 

 there with bright green, where the track of the summer torrent has formed an 

 occasional groove in their sides. Along the base of the hills, and following the 

 course of rivulets, vegetation is fresh and abundant ; and the labour of 

 liusbandry employed with considerable and increasing success. Within the 

 last three years, however, agricultural speculation, wliich had been carried, 

 apparently, to excess, in several parts of the border counties, has by no means 

 realized the anticipations of the spirited individuals under whose ausjiices and 

 example it had acquired such weU-merited importance. The cause of this, how- 

 ever, is evident — and the consequences, we trust, only temporary ; although it 

 is probable that, in several instances where new territory has been thus added 

 to the plough, the naturally superficial soil, and the variable character of the 

 seasons, will never yield even a moderate return to the cultivator. 



Of the several rivers wliich water and embellish these districts, each has given 

 its name to song; so that the Tweed and Leader, both closely associated in 

 pastoral ballads with the Ettrick and Yarrow, both remarkable for their con- 

 nexion with historical facts, and the illustrious individuals who have so often 

 selected their banks for a retreat — as well as for the beauty and fertility which 

 they communicate to scenes which have been justly entitled the Scottish 

 Arcadia,f have been long a legitimate theme for the native muse. 



The earliest authentic records which we possess of this Border territorj% date 

 from the eleventh century, when the districts now mentioned, that of the 



• Liimmer, Sax. ; Lammer, amber, Scot. 



f " On Leader haufjlis, and Yarrow braes, To hear tlie mair melodious sounds 



Arcadian herds wad tync their lays, That live on our poetic grounds."— R.\MS.\Y. 



