SCtt. If. THE COtfNTY OF FlF. 29 



superabundant moisture it receives in winter, or 

 in rainy seasons ; and the danger of having the 

 covering mould blown off the new sown grain, 

 by high winds, in dry springs, is incapable of 

 much improvement, and must ever continue of 

 small value. 



To what has been said respecting the soil of 

 this division of Fife, it may be proper to add, 

 that though the crops produced here may not 

 be so luxuriant as those on the south side of 

 the county, the quality of the grain, particular- 

 ly of the wheat and barley, is thought superior, 

 and brings a higher price at market. 



Before I leave this part of the subject, it may 

 be proper to take notice of the links ^ or sand- 

 banks which skirt the south and east coasts of 

 the county. These, though of great extent, are 

 of little value. The continental soil being bu- 

 ried under drifted sand, to the depth, often, of 

 several feet, they afford only a coarse and scan- 

 ty pasture. But though they have no natural 

 beauties to boast of, they are nevertheless high* 

 ly ornamental to the county, by the manufac- 

 turing towns and thriving villages with which 

 they are crowded. And though, by their na- 

 tural produce, they can add little to the gene- 

 ral stock, they encourage the culture of the 

 more fertile soils, by the constant demands of 

 their numerous inhabitants. 



The description, which we have given of the 

 soil, will serve to convey some idea of the sur- 

 face. It may be sufficient, therefore, to ob- 

 serve, that in surveying it at large, the eye is 

 not fatigued with the prospect of an unvaried 

 plain, where there is no variety of objects te 



