28 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY tfF chap. /. 



ground, upon the south side of these hills, from 

 the western boundary to the extremity on the 

 east, is rich clay, loam, and gravel. On the 

 north side, along the Tay, the soil is nearly of 

 the same quality ; only in some places the clay 

 is heavier and stronger, and in others, the 

 ground inclines to be wet, from a clayey or 

 tilly bottom. The lands around the old abbey 

 of Lindores, and some other flat ground on the 

 edge of the river, are rich carse lands, equal, 

 perhaps, to any in the kingdom. 



In the middle of this district, the high ground 

 on the west side of the road that leads from 

 Auchtermuchty to Newburgh, contains no great 

 proportion of good arable land. But on the 

 cast, we meet with a rich extensive valley, 

 commencing at the Loch of Lindores, in the 

 parish of Abdie, and winding along eastward, 

 in different directions, and with various lateral 

 openings, till it reaches the extremity of the 

 county. Here the soil is light loam ; gravel ; 

 in some places, clay ; and in others swampy, 

 and overrun with rushes, from the want of 

 draining. The soil on the acclivities of the 

 hills, on either side, to the very summits, is 

 nearly the same, but in general deeper, richer, 

 and more productive. On the eastern part of 

 this district, \vhere the hills gradually decline,' 

 and sink down to the level of the sea, there is 

 much excellent land, especially in the parish of 

 Leuchars, and seemingly under the best ma- 

 nagement. At the same time, we find here 

 large tracts of flat, benty, and light, sandy soil, 

 lying upon the shore ; which, from its natural 

 poverty ; its inability to relieve itself from the 



