FORFARSHIRE. 



FORFARSHIRE. 



I : 



district*. Very littlo coal U found. Peat, bnuhwood, 

 , and funo are used for fuel by tho poor. 

 ruyrapky, Commumtcolioiu, <t-e. Formerly there were few 

 parallel in this county in which thare wu not a Uke. Th number 

 u now much reduced. Some hare been drained to gain arable land, 

 but many more hare been wholly or partially drained that the marl 

 found in the bed* of the Uke* might be used ai manura. The prin- 

 cipal which remain are Loch Lee, in the Grampian*, the source of the 

 North E*k Biver, a mile in length, unbosomed among group* of lofty 

 mountains ; Lentrathen Loch, a beautiful aheot of water at the base 

 of the Grampian range, nearly circular, and a mile in diameter : it U 

 inclosed by magnificent mountain scenery, and its banks present some 

 rare botanical plants ; and the Loch of Forfar. Eastward from 

 Forfar U the Loch of Reecobie, of about a mile in length, and in con- 

 nection with it u the Loch of Balgavic* abounding in waterfowl All 

 these lake* abound in pike, perch, and eel*, and the Highland lakes 

 also contain abundance of trout. 



The following are the princi|ial riven, or, as they are pmviucially 

 lied, waters: the .Vorf* iii (Gaelic t'iey Water) issues from 

 Loch Lee, which is fed by mountain streams from the west. Descend- 

 ing in a winding course to tho east and south-east it receives almost 

 innumerable mountain torrents until at Burn it becomes the northern 

 boundary lino of the county, when, after receiving the West Water 

 and the Water of Cruick, it flows south-easterly through a fertile 

 district, and falls into the sea about three miles north of Montrose. 

 No part of this stream is navigable. The South &i issues from the 

 north-west summits of the Grampians, and having received numerous 

 mountain streams descend* into the valley of Strathmore, where it is 

 further augmented by several brooks : continuing easterly by the 

 town of Brechin it passes through the Basin of Montrose into the sea. 

 On several of its falls are erected flax -spinning mills, and other 

 machinery. Tho Itla rises from numerous torrents among the 

 Grampian summit* on the north-west side of the county. Its course 

 is south-west to near Buthven, where it turns off to join the Tay, in 

 Perthshire. Like the North Esk at Burn in escaping from the 

 Grampians it has worn a chasm in the granite rocks more than a 

 hundred feet perpendicular ; and it forms cascades of the greatest 

 beauty. One ha* a clear precipitous fall of at least 35 feet. The 

 bank* are very steep and richly wooded for several miles, and the 

 scenery, at the junction of the Melgam Water is rendered highly 

 romantic by the extensive ruins of the ancient fortified castle of 

 Airlie. The Dean, Luuan, Dighty, and other smaller streams are not 

 of sufficient magnitude to require particular notice. 



The principal roads branch off from Dundee 1, to Arbroalh, 

 Montrose, and thence to Aberdeen ; 2, to Forfar and Brechiu ; S, to 

 Cupar Angus and westward. These, and other lines of internal com- 

 munication, are kept in good order. There are numerous stone and 

 wooden bridges across the small streams. The principal one is over 

 the North Kk, on the road from Montrose to Kincardine. The 

 railways in the county are the Scottish Midland Junction railway, 

 which enters Forfarshire at Cupar Angus and joins the Aberdeen 

 railway through the Arbroath and Forfar railway at Forfar; the 

 Arbroath and Forfar railway i* connected with the Aberdeen railway 

 aid all") with the Dundee and Arbroath railway, a line which runs 

 along the coast from Arbroath to Dundee, where it communicates 

 with the Dundee and Perth railway by means of a line of rails carried 

 alone the Docks of Dundee. This line is used only for hone haulage. 

 The Edinburgh and Northern line, from Dundee to Edinburgh through 

 Fife, is connected with the Dundee and Arbroath line at Broughty 

 Ferry. A communication between Dundee and the Scottish Midland 

 Junction railway a effected by the Dundee and Newtyle railway, 

 which joins the Midland line at Mcigle in Strathmore. 



Climate, Soil, Agriculture. The great variety of elevation causes a 

 corresponding variety of climate. On the highlands among the 

 Grampians, where tho mow lies on the summits during the greater 

 part of the year, the air i* generally cold and piercing. In the great 

 midland valley, and in the sheltered part* of the maritime district, the 

 climate i* comparatively mild and genial On the coast the easterly 

 and south-west winds are occasionally very severe. The heaviest rains 

 are from the east and south-cast, and the deepest falls of *now from 

 the north and north-east 



On the Grampian* the soil is a thin stratum of moorish earth, 

 through which the rock often juts from a subsoil of whitish clay. In 

 the glens the alluvial soil is loose and friable, having a predominance 



raUy 



, 



In the lower parts cf the county the primary soils are gcne- 

 thin, DHMsy, and encumbered with loose stones. The primary 



soiU ion the sandstone rocks are chiefly tenacious cUy, naturally 

 unproductive, though when properly wrought producing excellent 

 crop, of wheat. In the valley of Strathmore the soil, are all alluvial, 

 but ldomfcrtUe. Some part, of thb valley are gravelly, othen! 

 exhibit a .oil of barren and. Fine tracts of rich black and brown 

 vegetable mould occur at the western extremity of the basin or lake of 

 Montros*-, and in some other place*. On the whole, the Grampian 

 dUtrict and the dechviti.. of the Sidlaw Hill, may be ^Hote 

 fcnerally covered with coarse cUy and moor pasture ; and all the 

 tower land* have partly retentive subsoils, and portly alluvial soil*. 

 Along the coast, north of Montrose, between Arbroath and 

 DwHiee, around the latter pUo* and in the inland district between 



Brechin and Forfar, are down* of loose sand partially covered with 

 stunted grass, and useful only as burrowing ground for rabbits. The 

 principal bed of peat is called the Dilty MOM, on a ridge of the Sidlaw 

 Hills. On the Grampians the best peat-beds occupy the hollow* un 

 the highest summit*, which renders it difficult to obtain this fuel in 

 the populous lowland district*. 



About a century ago a great proportion of this county was in the 

 hands of a few ancient families; but since tho introduction of trade 

 and manufacture* Unde i ho. changed baud* frequently, and 



has become much more divided. Farms vary much in sue, some 

 consisting only of 20 or 30 acres, oil. ..cr.-.-. They are gone- 



rally from 100 to 250 acres, but many are less than 100 acres, 

 county U well farmed, and the farms are geuerally hel I by enterprising 

 tenant, on improving lease*. Almo.-t every M .ul improvement has 

 been adopted in the modes and iui; agriculture. Draining 



of various kinds is practised extensively, Incloaurea are made < 

 by stone-dykes in the highland*, aud by stone-dyke* and quid. 

 hedge, in the plains of Strathmore and towards the sea, Bn. 

 stock have been much improved, and several u 

 societies exercise a great influence in the introduction of *u 

 modes of culture and breeding. The chief crops are of oaU, l 

 and wheat, and the rotation of crops is varied according 

 soils. Wheat is now successfully cultivated at all elevations less tliau 

 1000 feet above the level of the sea. Considerable quantities of wheat 

 are annually exported to London and other ports, and American, 

 Danzig, and other foreign wheats are largely imported to mix with 

 that produced in the county. Barley u extensively cultivated. IV-as, 

 beans, vetches, aud turnips are grown. The Swedish turnip is much 

 used for feeding milch-cow*. Red aud white clover aro common, aud 

 are mixed with rye-grass. Potatoes are extensively cultivated aud 

 exported. In the neighbourhood of the towns there are uiarket- 

 gardens and nurseries for tho supply of tho inhabitants. 



The ancient breed of horses in this county, commonly called Garrons, 

 is small but hardy, and capable of enduring much fatigue. They aro 

 still numerous in the Grampian district. Their colour is i;ra\ 

 feed chiefly on the stunted grass which they iin.l 

 mountains. The cattle were formerly diminutive, but they have been 

 greatly improved. The original sheep of this county is the 

 white-faced breed. Some small flocks of these still remain in the 

 Grampians, but generally they are much crossed with the black-faced 

 breed of Tweeddale, which constitute a large proportion of the -hole 

 stock of the county. Superior aud more delicate breeds are roared 

 in the parks and lawns of the resident proprietors. Hogs are 

 kept by every farmer and cottager. There are two prim -ipal breeds : 

 one, a thin-backed, raw-boned animal, with long brutloa, a tapering 

 snout, and projecting tusks, appears to be i :.mt of thu 



ancient wild boar of the forest; the oth i- i< the small common 

 Chinese breed, which is by far the most numerous. Poult i 

 pigeons are geuerally kept by every farmer. Bees are also commonly 

 1.. )'. 



Game is plentiful ; wild roebucks traverse the extensive plan; 

 aud glens of the Grampian and Sidlaw hills. They are small, ti:m<i. 

 and untameablc. In ancient times the red-deer or stag aL, 

 among the Grampians, but ia now very rarely seen. The large antlers 

 of the moose deer are found iu the mosses, together with enormous 

 horns of thu ancient Caledonian cattle. The alpine hare, wh< 

 in winter is snowy white, is found iu tho highest parts of tho Gram- 

 pians. Otters and seals frequent tho rocks on the eastern sea-coast. 

 During the salmon-fishing season numbers of seals and porpoise* 

 frequent the mouths of the riven, especially the {estuary of the Tay, 

 where they destroy large quantities of fish. Wild geese and swans 

 visit tho county iu November. The Grampians are frequented by 

 eagles, kites, and hawks. 



Jndtatry, <L-c. Tho deep-sea fishing off the eastern coast ia very 

 productive, and large quantities of salmon and smaller fish are taken 

 in the Frith of Tay, aud at the mouths of several streams thence to 

 the North Esk. The villages of Ferryden, Usan, and Auchuiithie are 

 extensively engaged iu the sea-fishery, which employs the wl. 

 their population : the villages of Broughty Kerry aud Carnoustie also 

 contain a considerable fisher population. In favourable seasons large 

 supplies of salmon are aeut to the London market packed in boxes of 

 pounded ice. The most abundant kinds of fish are salmon . 

 herrings, haddocks, turbots, soles, sprats, lobsters, and crab*. The 

 loch* and principal streams supply abundance of pike, perch, trout, 

 and eeU. 



This county ia EO favourably situated for commerce that a ready 

 market for its agricultural and manufacturing produce can always bo 

 relied upon, and its exportation of linen fabrics, cattle, coru, and 

 salmon U very extensive. The coarser kinds of linen fabrics, as huck- 

 abacks, canvass, sheeting, sacking, &o., are manufactured in this county 

 to a large extent Finer bleached linens for shirting and sh 

 and coloured thread, are also extensively manufactured. A gre 

 of the weaving is performed by the hand-loom, but the spinning ia 

 wholly done by xteam and water power. Of thu whole steam-power 

 employed in the linen manufacture in Scotland, Forfarshire poeeeses 

 about three-fourths. It thus forms the great seat of the liuen 

 manufacture of tho country. 



Tawnt, d>c. There are in Forfarshira 58 parishes. 



