MORAYSHIRE. 



711 



. 



Monj. west, and often rises into a violent tempest with rain, 

 *y > *' . sleet, or snow. The heaviest and longest rains are 

 ""*'""*' from the north or north-west, and thunder showers 

 and drizzling wet weather proceed from the south or 

 south-east. An easterly wind is sometimes attended 

 with a heavy flood, and the north wind is often cold 

 and fair, with occasionally severe rains. A dry parch- 

 ing easterly wind prevails in general towards the end 

 of spring, blasting the corn, grass, and blossoms through 

 the whole district. The mean quantity of rain is 25.28 

 inches, or from 20.06 to 33.17 inches, during a space 

 of nine years. The average depth of rain in the hilly 

 districts is five or *ix inches greater than that on the 

 coast. The sowing of corn continues from the 2d of 

 March to the 10th April, and the harvest from the 28th 

 August to November 4th. The crops are sometimes 

 damaged in the month of August by a most destruc- 

 tive mildew, occasioned by vapours arising from stag- 

 nating streams, which, settling on the unripe corn, 

 injures the milky substance in the ear, and, unless 

 removed by brisk gales or heavy showers, blasts die 

 hopes of the farmer. Few crops suffer from excess 

 of rain ; and no instance of any loss from this cause oc- 

 curred during a period of 38 years, from 174* to 1782. 

 The county of Moray* afforded a large supply of grain 

 for the adjoining counties, when the very wet and cold 

 seasons, towards the end of the 16th century, had pro- 

 duced a famine over the whole kingdom. Oat-meal 

 wu bought at that period, to be carried across the 

 Grampian hills, at the rate of l, 10. for the boll of 

 150lb. 



The soil is chiefly of the following species : lit, A. 

 sandy toil, which constitutes the greatest part of the 

 eastern end of the plain already described, although 

 there are several small fields of clay and fertile loam 

 interspersed amongst it 'id, Clay, amounting nearly 

 to one-fifth of the whole of the cultivated part. 3d, 

 Loam, which forms nearly three-eighths of what is used 

 in tillage. 4/A, Peat Earth, which occupies the lowest 

 ground, and from this it is inferred that the sea has re- 

 tired many ages ago, since the subsoil is generally 

 and, and the moisy surface mingled with the re- 

 mains of timber, willow, &c. The peat is very sulphu- 

 reous, changing the colour of silver into a leaden hue, 

 and corroding kitchen utensils, whether of copper or 

 iron. There are only 1700 acres of peat cultivated. 

 Three-fourths of the whole county, including lakes, 

 marshes, roads. &c. are waste. 



The population of Moray shire amounted, in 1755, 

 to lS,y8-i; in 1797, to 14,445; in 1801, to 26,705 ; 

 and, in 1SII, to 28, 108. 



The agriculture of Moravshire was not neglected 

 during the dark ages, but mills were erected in the year 

 1200; carts were used, and breweries established, in 

 1 225 ; and gardens formed in 1 232 ; leases were also grant- 

 ed for five and three lives, in the years 1378 and 1390. 

 The culture of wheat in Scotland was increased by an 

 act of Parliament about 500 yean ago, which compelled 

 every farmer who had four yoke of oxen to sow one bu- 

 shel of wheat ; and, in 1565 James Ogilvie of Findluter, 

 produced on his farm 30 bolls of wheat ; and the Bi- 

 bop of Moray had the same year, according to his 

 rental, 10 bolls. This circumstance proves that the 

 agriculture of Moray was in a higher state of im- 

 provement at this period than that of some of the 

 countif* in the north of England, where wheat was 

 not introduced until more than a century after. The 

 convulsions occasioned by the Reformation prevented 

 the inhabitants of Moray from attending to their agrU 



Moray- 

 shire. 



f .a. .-. 



*' 

 ire. 



culture ; and it was in such a situation, after the struggle 

 carried on for prelacy by four successive monarchs, as 

 to be almost wholly abandoned during the seven un- ' 

 favourable seasons which took place towards the latter 

 part of the 17th century, and the beginning of the 18th. 

 Thousands of the inhabitants of this county perished 

 at that time, in the high-ways and streets, in conse- 

 quence of mere hunger. The magistracy of Elgin esta- 

 blished a police for burying, every morning, the bodies 

 of those miserable beings who had fallen victims in the 

 streets to the famine during the . night. The bier on 

 which the dead of the adjoining parish of Urquhart 

 were carried to their graves still remains ; and it is an 

 ascertained fact that their ordinary attire served both 

 for the coffin and the shroud. We need not be surpris- 

 ed to find this district long stationary, or rather retro- 

 grade in agricultural improvemements after so severe a 

 scourge. Summer fallowing, the basis of all good hus- 

 bandry, was unknown. The rotation of crops was mi- 

 serably bad, consisting of a crop of barley, after two or 

 three ploughings, succeeded by three successive crops 

 of oats. The implements of agriculture were extremely 

 deficient, and no 'striking improvements could, under 

 such circumstances, be expected to take place. It re- 

 mained for Dr. Walker, a great admirer and steady 

 follower of Mr. Tull, to establish in this district, nearly 

 40 years ago, the drill husbandry in the culture of 

 beans, potatoes, and turnips, which has been long and 

 generally followed. Potatoes were first introduced 

 about the year 17 10, and clover later than that period. 

 A few plantations exist in this county, and the largest, 

 which belongs to Sir J.imesGrant,consistsof 20,000 acres. 

 The breeds of cattle and sheep have been improved by 

 importing some of the most admired kinds from Eng- 

 land, and other parts of this kingdom. Considerable 

 attention is paid to poultry, of which they have six va- 

 rieties. Increased enclosures, regular drainage, irriga- improve- 

 tion, good rotations of crops, the soiling of cattle, and ments. 

 union amongst all the proprietors for the destruction of 

 moles, would contribute very much to add to the pro- 

 ductiveness of a county which can boast of a good soil 

 and climate. Agricultural societies established at El- 

 gin and Forres have been useful in promoting inquiry 

 and the advancement of husbandry. 



The prices of mutton and beef are nearly the same Price of 

 with those of the Edinburgh markets ; fish sell for very provisions. 

 moderate prices, although the price has advanced more 

 than 100 per cent. Haddocks bring one penny each, 

 and cod are sold fur one penny per Ib. Half a gallon 

 of milk sells for twopence ; and cheese for threepence 

 per Ib. 



Coal was unknown in this county about the middle Fuel. 

 of last century. It requires from 30 to 50 one-horse 

 carts of peat to maintain a cottage fire during the year. 

 The most frugal farmer has to pay from L.12 to L.I 6, 

 exclusive of carriage, for the supply of coals and peat 

 during the year. 



The surplus oats and barley of this county are sent Commerce 

 to Dundee or Leith, and the wheat, amounting to 8 or and manu- 

 10,000 quarters, to London. Salmon are sold to the factures. 

 extent of 25,000, and other articles produce 30,000. 

 The facilities of commerce will be increased, and the 

 navigation rendered less dangerous, by forming a har- 

 bour at Burgh-head. Woollen manufactories are esta- 

 blished in this district, and some of the workmen are 

 from Yorkshire. Nearly 60,000 stones of wool are 

 carded in the counties of Moray and Nairn, and manu- 

 factured for plaiding and domestic purposes. A manu-. 

 facture of cotton is also established in this county. 



