162 Planting Waste, Lands much neglected. 



santin the usual laconic manner : " Plaseyour 

 honor it will neither produce butter nor beef." 



S&&S)>d i . .:' 



The most prominent feature in the landscape 

 of to-day was the towering aspect of the moun- 

 tain called Knocklaid : as we approached, it 

 grew in importance ; its elevation and base are 

 both considerable. The sides of this mountain 

 are cultivated to a great height ; and I observed, 

 with not less pleasure than surprise, very thriv- 

 ing plantations, though exposed to the uninter- 

 rupted blast of the western ocean. Ignorance 

 alone can be offered as a legitimate excuse for 

 the neglect of planting extensive wastes, as no 

 expenditure in improvements of the soil is capa- 

 ble of making the return which wood produces, 

 independent of its contributing to the health of 

 the inhabitants and the' picturesque beauty of 

 the country. 



i*&tf|t*#> 



Descending along the vale to Bally Castle, 

 the land appeared rich and well enclosed. 



Before our descent into Bally Castle, which 

 we found considerable, we were gratified with 

 a most magnificent view. The Scottish shore 

 before us below, the rocky iron-bound island 

 of Rachlin to the right, Knocklaid and be- 

 yond it, Fair-head, one of the most northern 



