ARBORICULTURE IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY. 293 
XIX. Arboriculture in the Counties of Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, 
and Wigtown. By AurexanvEer Pircaituuey, Forester, 
Sudbourn Hall, Wickham Market, Suffolk. 
The south-western district of Scotland, comprising the counties of 
Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, and Wigtown, is bounded on the south 
by the Solway Firth, Wigtown Bay, and Galloway Bay ; on the 
west by the North Channel; on the north by the counties of Ayr 
and Lanark; and on the east by the county of Roxburgh. The 
extreme length from east to west is about one hundred miles, and 
the greatest breadth from north to south about fifty miles. The 
total area is about 2569 square miles, or 1,644,195 imperial acres, 
apportioned thus—Dumfriesshire, 705,946; Kirkcudbrightshire, 
610,343 ; and Wigtownshire, 327,906 acres. 
The general aspect is very hilly, with the exception of the level 
tracts of rich alluvial land along the valleys and estuaries of the 
rivers. Among the principal rivers are the Esk, Annan, and Nith, 
in Dumfriesshire ; the Urr, Dee, and Cree, in Kirkeudbrightshire ; 
and the Bladenoch, in Wigtownshire. The chief lochs are Loch 
Ken, in Kirkcudbrightshire ; and Lochmaben, in Dumfriesshire. 
The Lowther range of hills, and their outlying spurs, extend 
along the whole of the northern boundaries of these counties. The 
most elevated points are Mount Merrick, in Kirkeudbrightshire, 
2764 feet high ; and Hartfell, in Dumfriesshire, 2650 feet. Nearly 
all those hills are clothed to the summits with green grass, present- 
ing a striking contrast to the heath-covered mountains in the 
northern parts of Scotland. 
The soil is exceedingly variable, as is also the geological formation. 
In Dumfriesshire red sandstone predominates, and being of excellent 
quality, the quarries form a considerable item in the revenue of 
several estates. In Kirkcudbrightshire the granite formation pre- 
vails ; and Cairnsmuir raises its rounded summit of smooth granite 
to a height of 2000 feet above sea-level. 
The soil and climate are well adapted to the growth of timber. 
Oak, ash, beech, chestnut, sycamore, and all the other ordinary kinds 
of hardwoods are found growing to a great size, and still retaining 
their vigour. One of the largest oaks in Scotland grows on the side 
of the road on the estate of Carnsalloch in Dumfriesshire, while the 
other timber on the same estate is not equalled in the county for 
size, the soil here being a good loam resting on sandstone. Perhaps 
the finest avenue of limes to be found in Scotland stands at Kenmuir 
