1011 



FireSHIRE. 



FIFK8HIRE. 



low 



UM next in magnitude. There are mineral springs iu various part*, 

 particular!/ iv.o cholybeates of great repute, near the tuwn of 

 !,, 



About three-fourths of the county boundary are formed by the 

 ocean and the great actuaries or Friths of the Forth and the Tay. 

 Along this extensive line of coast are many commodious harbours. 

 Stoun-boaU ply regularly between the principal ports of Fifeshire 

 and thoM of the adjacent counties, wpecially with Ixiith on the south 

 and Dundee and Perth on the north. The principal roads in the 

 county are those which, commencing at Burutisland and Kinghorn 

 opposite Leith, lead to Pcrtli, Cupar, St Andrews, and Dundee. 



The Edinburgh and Northern railway runs through the cminty 

 from Burntisland on the Frith of Forth to Ferry-port-<jn-Craig on the 

 Frith of Tay r*** ; rg on its route through the towns of KirkcnMy, 

 Dyaart, Oupar, 4c, The ferries on the Friths of Forth and Tay are 

 worked by means of the railway company's steamers. 



Gtoluyy, Mituralogy, Ac. Coal and limestone are found in abund- 

 ance in almost every part of the county south of the Eden ; but they 

 are not found in the upper division, north of that river. Along the 

 shore of the Forth, from Torryburn in the west to Pittcn woem in the 

 east, the strata of coal are generally regular, dipping to the east and 

 south-ca-t. They terminate on the one baud at the distance of 2 or 

 3 mile* from the water's edge, and on the other they are continued 

 beneath it. Another tract of coal, to the north of this, extends 

 through the higher ground, nearly parallel, from the north of Dun- 

 fcmiliiic to Leslie, and thence to the parish of Denino, a little to the 

 south of St Andrews. The dip of these strata is almost invariably 

 north and north-coot. In the irregular hills along the right bauk of 

 the Eden the strata are found in every variety of position. The 

 collieries are numerous, and employ a large number of hand*. The 

 working of coal at Dysart is said to have commenced upwards of 350 

 years ago. 



Limestone quarries ore numerous in the southern district. The 

 lime- works, 3 miles east of Torry bum, are perhaps the most extensive 

 in Scotland ; in the parish of Burntisland, and in many other places, 

 quarries are constantly worked. Ironstone is plentiful, especially 

 near Dysart, and in the parish of Balgonie. It yields from 40 to 60 

 per cent, of metal, and several thousand tons are annually conveyed 

 to tha great foundry of the Carron Company. Lead mines have been 

 worked in the Lomond Hills. Freestone of a superior quality is 

 found in great abundance south of the Eden, particularly in Burut- 

 islaud. Freestone, well adapted for paving, i quarried in Strathiniglo, 

 and near Diuifunnlinc and north of the Lomond Hills arc vast rocks 

 of white freestone, susceptible of a fine polish. Along the sides and 

 summits of the northern hills are boulders of the primitive rocks 

 granitu, gneiss, quartz, mica-slate, with garnets and primitive green 

 stone, many of Tory large dimensions. Whin or greenstone is 

 abundant, especially in the north ; it is hard, firm, and durable ; and 

 is well adapted for building. On the shore near Burutixland, and iu 

 some other places, are found beds of a hard dark-coloured stone, 

 which endures exposure to the most intense boat for several years 

 without injury ; it is therefore much used for grates and ovens. Marl 

 is found, but it is not much used by the farmers for manure. Clay 

 U abundant for making bricks, not only of the common kind, but 

 also fire-bricks, of an excellent quality. Peat in some parts is plenti- 

 ful. Agates and very beautiful crystals of carbonate of lime and 

 sulphate of barytes are imbedded in the whiustune rocks of Monimail 

 and Newbur h 'h ; and agates, cornelians, jaspers, and rubies have been 

 fonnd in the bed of the Eden and at Eittl s Ferry. In the parish ol 

 Dysart fossil trees and other remains have been found. 



Climate, Sod, Agriculture, d-c. The air in general is dry, healthy, 

 and exhilarating. Agues are almost unknown, and fevers have a 

 comparatively mild character. Along the coast of the Frith of Forth 

 the air is mild and salubrious ; but in the west and north-west districts, 

 which have greater elevation, with a soil more moist and less culti 

 Tated, the air is comparatively damp and cold. In consequence o: 

 the hills of Fifeshirt lying generally from north-oast to south-west 

 the valleys are much exposed to severe easterly and north-easterlj 

 winds. But the greatest inconvenience experienced in this comity 

 as in every part of Scotland, U occasioned by the frequent sudden 

 changes in the weather. 



The soil U of various kinds. In the m<wt fertile districts it consists 

 principally of a rich loam ; in the poorer tracts it is mostly a wet 

 clay, resting on a cold bed of till A level tract of deep, rich, and very 

 fertile loam extends from east to west along the whole southern side, 

 varying in width from 8 miles to 1 mile from the shore of the Frith 

 of Forth, It produces luxuriant crops of all the common kinds o 

 grain and vegetables. A wide strip of land extending from the town 

 of St. Andrew* to the extremity of the county north-west of Djin 

 fcrmliM, conauti of wet clay, with moss, moor, and rocky hills 

 The western and north-western parts are also of little agriculture 

 vulue, being partially covered with barren moor, and heathy moun 

 tain land. The valley drained by the Eden commences at the mouth 

 of that river and extends to the borders of Perthshire. From Cupar 

 westward its width is from 8 to 4 mile*. IU soil varies in different 

 part* from a light friable and sandy mould to a strong and heavi 

 loaiu, but the whole is generally well cultivated and very productive 

 The northern side of the county along the Frith of Tay exhibit* a 



series of rocky hills partially covered with furze, but intersected by 

 numerous fertile valleys and carefully cultivated slopes. 



Fifeshire is well cultivated, has an unusual proportion of gentle- 

 men's Beats and plantations, and its coast is thickly studded with 

 villages and towns. There U little natural wood. The plantations 

 are numerous ; and the timber, which in mostly aged and valuable, 

 consists of ash, elm, beech, fir of different kinds, limes, chestnut, syca- 

 more, and oak. Many hundred acres of waste land have been planted 

 with forest-trees. Owing to tin- number of upulcut proprietors who 

 reside on thtir estates in Fifeshire, gardens are numerous, extensive, 

 and weU managed. 



Four-fifths of the county are arable. Farms vary in extent 

 >0 to 500 acres : the average may be about 120 acres. Property in 

 and is perhaps more equally divided, and distributed among a greater 

 number of proprietors than iu any other county of Scotland, 

 rural dwellings and farmsteads were in the end of the hut century of 

 ,he most wretched description. The farmers lived in low, smoky, 

 .uidly-lightcd cottages, without any interior divisions except those 

 made by the furniture. These have been replaced by neat and com- 

 modious houses; and the form-offices, which formerly were awkward 

 and filthy, have given place to greatly-improved structures. By far 

 the greater portion of the county is inclosed, and the fences consist 

 either of stone dykes or thorn hedges. Drainage having been very 

 extensively and effectually executed on tracts of flat and swampy 

 lands, has greatly improved both the productiveness and tin- i 

 of the county. The sites of several considerable lakes now bear fine 

 crops of grain. 



The principal crops ore of oats, wheat, and barley. As oats are 

 more generally adapted to the soil and climate, the cultivation is 

 more extensive than that of any other kind of grain ; and though the 

 poorest families now eat whcatcii bread, oatmeal is still much used as 

 on important article of food. Barley is raised to some extent 

 meal of this groin is used for bread among some of the poorer class of 

 labourers, who sometimes mix it for this purpose with pea and oat- 

 meal. Wheat being adapted only to some parts of the soil, and 

 requiring more care and expense than oata and barley, is not exten- 

 sively raised ; the crops however are generally very good. The 

 exportation of oats, wheat, and barley is carried on chielly at the port 

 of Kirkcaldy. Peas and beans thrive best in the northern and southern 

 districts. Of potatoes a sufficient quantity is planted on every farm 

 for the tenant and his cottagers, and abundant supplies :i. 

 the vicinity of every town and village. Some cargoes of potatoes are 

 cxpnrtid to the London and other markets. Turnips are exten 

 used for fattening cattle and feeding milch cows and young stock iu 

 sheds. Flax is an important crop iu Fifeshire ; the produce is con- 

 sumed in the large linen manufactures of the county, principally at 

 IHinfermlino. Rye, cabbage, colewort, kail, tares, and carrots are 

 cultivated to a small extent. 



The county has been long distinguished for the excellence of ita 

 breed of cattle. The prevailing colour is black, though iu th. 

 county breed every variety of colour is found. They are hardy, fleet, 

 travel well, are tauie, and fatten quickly. The cows arc of high i 

 iu the daily. Sheep are not numerous. The flocks are chiefly of the 

 Cheviot breed. Hogs are kept by all the farmers and cottagers. The 

 breed of horses has been greatly improved. Poultry and pigeons an 

 abundant Modern improvements in agricultural implements are 

 adopted throughout the county. Thrashing-machines, some of which 

 are driven by steam, iron ploughs, &c., are in common use. Looses 

 are generally for 18 years. There are several active agricultural 

 societies iu the county. Most of the indigenous and other animals of 

 Britain, wild and tame, are found. Game-birds are abundant, and 

 the lochs are visited by wild geese, ducks, teal, and occasionally by 

 wild swans. Among the rarer birds are the Bohemian and silken 

 chatterers, the siskin, kingfisher, and passenger-pigeon. 



Jiultatry, <tc. Small breweries and distilleries for the manufacture 

 of malt liquor and malt spirits are numerous. The manufacture of 

 tea-salt has been established in Fifeshiro for several centuries, dii> tly 

 at Dysart, Kirkcaldy, and other places on the coast The prod 

 the coal-fields in the western parishes of Aberdour, Dalgety, Iim-r- 

 keithing, and Dunfermline is very considerable. Ox and cow-hides, 

 calf-skins, and some seal-skins are tanned and dressed at Kirkcaldy, 

 Cupar, Auchtermuchty, and Falkland. The manufacture of I in- n 

 employs a much larger number of hands than any other manufacture 

 in the county. 



Besides considerable salmon-fisheries in the riven Leven and Eden, 

 and at Ncwburgh, the herring-fisheries along the north-eastern, 

 eastern, and southern coasts are extensive, and large exportation of 

 the produce are made. Cod, turbot, haddock, and the other common 

 species of sea-fish are taken off the eastern coast and conveyed to the 

 market of Edinburgh. 



The shipping belonging to the small ports of Fifeshire consists 

 rlii.-ily of brigs and sloops for the coasting trade, as the contiguity of 

 the great ports of Leith and Dundee afford* the convenience of steam 

 conveyance to London and other distant places. Numerous vessels, 

 principally belonging to Kirkcaldy, ore engaged in the Baltic, Ameri- 

 can, and Australian trade, and a few are employed in the Oreeulaud 

 whale fishery. 

 Diviiiont, Toxnt, <ic. The county is divided into 61 parishes. For 



