MULL. AGRICULTURE. ,539 



selves those things for which a richer and a more fully 

 employed population has recourse to the industry of 

 towns ; promoting that division of labour which is mu- 

 tually profitable, but which must be the gradual result 

 of circumstances, and cannot be forced.* 



WITH the exception of the small rocky portion which 

 occurs at the Ross, and that of a few of the summits 

 in the mountainous tract, the soil of Mull is both deep 

 and fertile, being considerably more productive of pasture 

 in a given space than that of Sky, which in other cir- 

 cumstances this island so much resembles. This arises 

 from the greater extent of trap rocks it possesses ; all 

 of which moreover seem to be of such a constitution 

 as on mouldering to fall readily into a good soil. The 

 uncommon moisture and ready drainage of the country 

 are also conducive to that verdure which here occupies 

 tracts that in flatter and worse drained countries are 

 covered with useless bog and heath. Even Ben more 

 is clothed with luxuriant grass nearly to its summit, 

 wherever the declivities are not so steep as to occasion 

 it to be suffocated by the incessant fall of rubbish and 

 stones. This island has in former days been celebrated 

 for its woods, but the woods of Mull, like those of 

 the islands in general, have long since vanished; although 

 the remains of oak, found in a few neglected coppices 



* Although many of those wants for which the country must 

 always depend on the industry of towns are still but ill supplied 

 in the Highlands, the establishment of shops has materially tended 

 to increase the comforts of the inhabitants and, by presenting new 

 wants, to stimulate their industry. Dr. Johnson could not now 

 remark that if a female should break her needle in Sky her work 

 must stand still. The activity of commerce has in this way insinuated 

 its objects almost every where, to the evident advantage of all parties. 

 It was not unamusing to observe a printed bill of " Turner's liquid 

 blacking" on the walls of a cottage in one of the most remote 

 districts, where, till lately, even a shoe was unknown. 



