GEOGRAPHY OF THE NORTH-EAST 9 
beginning of thenineteenth century, when a canal, now disused, enabled it 
to become the centre of an agricultural area. 
Although agriculture is even more important than in the preceding 
region it does not predominate over all other industries to the same extent. 
Granite is worked on an extensive scale, the largest quarry being at Kemnay 
just above Kintore. There are a number of others in this region (some 
of which are no longer worked), but it may be noted that nearly all of 
importance are to be found near the edges of the granitic mass. 
The Don, as already indicated, is an important source of water power. 
During the last seven miles of its course it falls 100 ft.—at one place the 
rate of fall is 27 ft. per mile—and it is to the power thus provided that 
the original establishment of mills and factories in the Don valley is due. 
In this part of its course also, the river fortunately does not flow in a 
continuous narrow gorge; in the process of cutting down its bed, 
it has cut on alternate sides flat haughs which provide excellent sites 
for the erection of factories. Even to-day when steam-driven engines 
provide most of the power required, the river is utilised for the 
generation of hydro-electric power ; in addition water from the river is 
used in various manufacturing processes. Among other industries which 
started here in the eighteenth century that of cotton was at first one of 
the most promising; it was unable, however, to contend against the 
economic organisation of the Lancashire industry and the attempt had to 
beabandoned. At the present time the manufactures of paper and woollen 
goods are by far the most important. 
Bucuan.—Buchan, which is generally regarded as being bounded on 
the west by the Deveron and on the south by the Ythan, has a well-marked 
individuality. It may be described as a low-lying peneplain of ancient 
rock, and except in a few places it does not exceed 500 ft. above sea-level, 
while a large area in the north-east and east is below 250 ft. In the south 
the most important heights are those which separate the basins of the 
Ugie and the Ythan ; in the north the Windyhead and Braclemore Hills 
rise to over 700 ft. The granites and schists along the coast have weathered 
into many picturesque formations. 
The soil varies in character and fertility, but for the most part consists 
of boulder clay. Partly because of the absence of trees over considerable 
areas, the country presents a somewhat bleak appearance, and indeed it 
_ was not till the eighteenth century that a real attempt was made to clear 
from its surface the glacial boulders with which it was strewn, and to 
_ drain the bogs which were relics of the Ice Age. 
Cattle raising is an important pursuit and the whole agricultural economy 
of the region is based upon it. Over four-fifths of the land is either 
cultivated or under grass, oats, turnips and swedes, and rotation grasses 
being the principal crops. The uniformity of practice throughout the 
whole area is well illustrated by some recent figures: ‘ of the nineteen 
parishes in the area under consideration all but two devote from 11 to 
13 per cent. of the farmed area to turnips and swedes, all but two have 
between one-third and one-fourth of the same area under oats, and in all 
but one the percentage of rotation grass varies from 40 to 50 per cent., 
in most cases lying between 43 and 47.’ For this type of farming the 
