852 SCOTLAND. 
counties. West Ross, and by far the greatest part of Suther- accordingly brought for that purpose from different parts of 
land, of Cromarty, and of that portion of Caithness which Europe. But these attempts failed, and the trade gradually 
bounds with Sutherland, are rugged and unproductive. Not reverted fo its former narrow limits, when the woollen cloths 
a tenth part of this district is capable of being cultivated, made in Scotland were chiefly manufactured by the extra la- 
and only a twelfth part of the people resides in towns or hour of those who were employed in husbandry. The 
villages; yet, by the introduction of sheep-farming, by en- females, especially in winter, were occupied in carding and 
couraging manufactures, and, above all, by the extensive spinning the wool. The yarn thus produced was either given 
fisheries of herring and cod, now successfully established to a country weaver, to be woven into cloth for family use, 
along the coast of Caithness, this district must soon greatly or sold to such dealers as frequented fairs, where the surplus 
increase in value, and the inhabitants become richer and hap- of both cloth and yarn was exposed to sale. This mode of 
pier. The breeds of cattle have been' much improved of manufacturing woollen yarn and cloth is not yet entirely 
late years; the Tweedale breed of sheep is now spreading abandoned, although now principally confined to the 
over the western parts of this district; and there are already Highlands and poorer districts of the country, 
about 4000 of the Cheviot breed in various parts of it, more Mr. Baird, of Aberdeen, was the first who introduced 
especially in Sutherland and Caithness. The Merino breed, machinery in the manufacture of wool in Scotland. In 1789, 
and crosses of them, have been successfully introduced into he brought from Rochdale two carding engines, and four 
Ross-shire, and other parts of this district. East Ross and spinning-jennies, with the other necessary apparatus. That 
Cromarty are ornamented with the seats of the proprietors, part of the machinery which required the power of water was 
and extensive plantations. Wood also thrives in Sutherland, erected at Stoneywood, on the river Don; but the jennies 
and in the more hilly parts of Caithness; but in the plains with looms, &c., were fixed at Aberdeen. About 600 lbs. of 
of Caithness, and near the sea-coast, it cannot be raised to wool were manufactured weekly until the year 1796, when 
advantage, from the nature of the subsoil, in general a gritty the machinery was increased to tw ice the extent. The 
close gravel of little depth, incumbent on a horizontal flaggy preparation of wool by hand was generally laid aside, and 
rock, which keeps the water near the surface. several other mills were erected in Aberdeenshire; so that in 
The islands which are included in the eighth district, 1799, about 4000 lbs. were weekly manufactured by eighteen 
were formerly denominated Ebudas, but are now better engines. So rapid indeed has been the increase of this 
known by the name of the Hebrides, or the Western Islands, manufacture, that mills have been erected, not only in the 
They contain about one-tenth part of the total extent of different parts of Aberdeenshire, but at Elgin, Forres, Inver- 
Scotland, with about one-eighteenth part of its population, ness, Cromarty, in Caithness, and in some of the southern 
Of the whole surface, nearly one-seventh part is under culture, and western counties of Scotland. But the most considerable 
Wheat has been raised in some of the islands, more especially work of this kind in Scotland, is that of Messrs. Hadden and 
Bute, Islay and Coll; and turnips have also been cultivated Company at Aberdeen, which extends to twenty machines, 
successfully in Skye, and some of the smaller islands. In wrought by two powerful steam engines. Wool is manu- 
all these isles the breed of black cattle is excellent, though factured into cloth, carpets, stockings, lamb’s-wool hosiery 
in general small. The fisheries and kelp manufacture are and felts upon a considerable scale. 
very valuable; and by proper attention to them, these islands The manufactures of flax and hemp are deemed objects 
may furnish a great addition both to the wealth and strength of great national importance, and have long received the 
of the empire. fostering protection of government. “ An act for better 
In the ninth or last district are the northern islands of regulation of the linen and hempen manufactures of that 
Orkney and Zetland, or Shetland. The former contain part of Great Britain called Scotland,” was passed in 1727. 
about 440, and the latter nearly 880 square miles, and form In consequence of that statute, a board of trustees was 
one county. Only about one-seventeenth part of the whole established in Edinburgh, “ for overseeing, directing, and 
surface of these islands is in cultivation. Wheat and turnips better improving the said linen and hempen manufactures,” 
have both been tried, and not without success. The pure on which extensive powers were conferred. This Board has 
Merino breed of sheep has been introduced into Orkney since continued in constant activity, and regulated the trade 
recently, and a zeal for improvement has lately appeared in in all its branches, from the sowing of the flax-seed to the 
these islands, which may be attended with the best effects; measuring and finishing of the bleached cloth, 
for they enjoy a very temperate climate, though in a high The linen manufacture of Scotland is, however, at present, 
northern latitude. The isles being situated low, snow sel- nearly confined to coarse articles, such as plain sheetings, 
dom lies many days, and ice is never more than two or Osnaburghs, bagging, and canvass. The three first are 
three inches thick. principally exported to the West Indies, and fo America, and 
Horticulture is making rapid increase in every part, the last is a war article, of which the royal navy requires a 
Apples and other fruits are produced in abundance. At great quantity. 
Edinburgh the annual consumption of vegetables amounts to The following table shows the state of the linen trade in 
from 16 to 18,000/., which is about 45/. rent for every acre Scotland from IS 12 to 1823. 
employed in raising this production; but neither in the extent 
and cultivation of market or private gardens can this country 
in any degree compare with England. 
The ancient Caledonian forests, though much diminished, 
still occupy a considerable surface of the country, and a great 
number of plantations have recently been made in those parts 
which were unfavourable to agriculture. The extent of the 
natural woods is calculated at501,469 acres. The plantations 
extend over 412,226. 
The Scotch fir is the most common pine in the Scottish 
plantations; the larch has been lately introduced, and is a 
valuable acquisition, not only for the value of the wood, 
but also for its more rapid growth. Ash, elm, plane, beech, 
oak, laburnum and a great variety of other kinds, are 
however intermixed in the plantations. 
The Manufactures of Scotland are the chief source of 
her revenue. The woollen is the most ancient species of It has been calculated that 76,000 persons are engaged in 
manufacture known in Scotland. Some attempts were the manufacture of linen and hemp in Scotland, and that the 
made, before the two crowns were united, to establish it total value of the manufactured article is £775,000 
on a regular footing; and experienced workmen were About the year 1769, cotton was introduced into Scotland 
» as 
Years. 
Y ards. 
Value 
Average price 
per yard. 
1813 
19,799,146| 
£977,382 
1 
7} 
at 
11 
1814 
26,126,620} 
1,253,574 
16 
10} 
— 
n* 
1815 
32,056,015} 
1,403,766 
15 
2 
— 
10* 
1816 
26,112,045} 
1,026,674 
1 
— 
1817 
28,784,967} 
1,092,689 
2 
8.} 
— 
9 A 
1818 
31,283,100} 
1,253,528 
8 
0} 
—. 
9’i 
1819 
29,334,428} 
1,157,923 
4 
11 
— 
Oil 
1820 
26,259,011} 
1,038,708 
18 
Si 
— 
9 A 
1821 
30,473,461} 
1,232,038 
15 
4f 
— 
9a 
1822 
36,268,530} 
1,396,295 
19 
HI 
Q 2 
I 
