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firs in the hilly and moorish grounds, would doubtless tend much to the cultivation and improvement of this country.

Character, &c.-The inhabitants of this parish are, in general, fober, induftrious, attentive to their refpective callings, and exemplarily regular in their attendance on divine ordinances. They are charitably difpofed, and feem contented with their condition. They enjoy, in a reafonable degree, the benefits and comforts of fociety. Their houfes, dress, and manner of living, are confiderably improved.

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NUMBER XV.

PARISH OF CARDROSS.

(COUNTY AND PRESBYTERY OF DUMBARTON-SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.)

By the Rev. Mr ALEXANDER M'AULAY, Minifter.

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Situation, Extent, Rivers, Surface, and Soil.

ARDROSS is washed on the east border by the river Leven, and on the fouth by the Frith of Clyde. Its length, from Dumbarton Bridge to its boundary with the parifh of Row, is about 7 miles; its breadth, from the conflux of the Leven and Clyde to its junction with the parish of Bonhill, is 3 miles. The fituation of the parish is peculiarly beautiful: The Clyde runs for 7 miles along its coaft, and, being partly oppofite to the flourishing towns of Port-Glafgow and Greenock, it commands a profpect of the whole shipping, that great fource of industry and wealth to the western part of Scotland. The ground along the Frith has a gradual ascent from the fhore, for upwards of two miles, till it terminates in a ridge of hills, which feparate it from the lands in the neighbourhood of Leven and Loch-Lomond. The foil contiguous to the shore is of a light gravelly nature; but, at a short distance, it contains a confiderable mixture of clay. The lands adjacent to the Leven partake fomething of the nature of carse.

VOL. XVII,

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Agriculture.

Agriculture.-Farming has not yet made that progress, which, from the advantageous fituation of the parish, might have been expected. It has, however, for these 10 years paft, been making rapid advances. In order to promote this, the proprietors have contributed much. Befides their own example, which feldom fails to produce in the end the beft effects, they have inclosed almoft the whole grounds, and laid them out, in many places, in fuch divifions and fubdivifions, as are best fuited to their respective farms. Farmers, and, indeed, men of every defcription, overcome with difficulty prejudices which they have early imbibed. These prejudices operate as a fecond nature, and, for a long time, bid defiance to the foundeft arguments. It is a practice in this parish with many, of never beginning to plough till the roth day of March. However inviting the season may be prior to this period, it matters nothing; they adhere to the custom of their fathers. To begin fooner, it is thought, would prove detrimental to the foil, and injurious to the enfuing crop. This late plowing occafions a late feed-time, and of courfe a late harvest, a circumftance which is, for the most part, accompanied with many disadvantages. This prejudice, however, is beginning gradually to lofe its influence, and in a fhort time, it is hoped, it will be effectually removed,

Produce. The common produce of the parifh is oats and bear; and, of late, where the foil is of a ftronger quality, confiderable crops of wheat, peafe, and beans are raised. Po tatoes are every where cultivated. The farmers, within these few years, have begun to fee the advantage of green crops; accordingly a number of fields are laid down in clover and ye-grafs, but the culture of turnips is only in its infancy.

Manure.

Manure. There is plenty of lime-ftone on the lands of Camis-Efkan, the property of the family of Colgrain: Large quantities are regularly burnt, with which the neighbourhood is fupplied. The expence of burning is confiderable, as the coal is brought by water from Glasgow, at the rate of between 5's. and 6 s. the 12 cwt. On the fhore there is a good deal of fea ware driven in, during the winter and spring, which is carefully collected, and when laid upon lee ground proves an excellent manure. Befides this, which is called blown ware, large quantities of it are cut every third year. This, adhering to the ftones and rocks within water-mark, grows in three years to a confiderable length, and contains a greater abundance of thofe falts and juices which promote vegetation. As Cardrofs lies oppofite to Port-Glasgow and Greenock, and as the Frith is only from 2 to 4 miles in breadth, there is an easy access by water to these towns. confequence of this, it has become an object of great imporIn tance to the farmer to import from them ftreet dung, and, although this is done at great expence, each full cart, including every charge, amounting at least to 2 s. Sterling, yet the returns amply compenfate the whole trouble and outlay.

Draining, &c.-Few of the farmers in this parish are poffeffed of a capital, fufficient for carrying on extenfive inprovements. They with difficulty ftock their farms, which are rented in general from 201. to 50l. Sterling. They einbrace the readieft methods in their power, of raifing articles to pay their rents, and cannot afford to wait thofe diftant, though fure returns, with which the improving farmer must lay his account. Before this parish can be improved, a large capital must be employed in draining. The climate, like that of every other parish near the mouth of the Clyde, In confequence of the heavy, and almost inceffant rains, is wet.

which

which fall in the harvest and winter months, the lands are for a long time drenched in water, and, of course, rendered much less valuable both to the proprietor and tenant. Nothing but draining can remove this inconvenience, and facilitate improvement; and as the proprietors are chiefly interested in this, their exertions, it is hoped, will every day be more and more employed to promote so important an end.

Cattle. Formerly almost every farmer kept a few sheep; but now, excepting on three farms, this practice is entirely given over. Too little attention, in general, is given to the breed of milk cows. It is also a practice too much followed, to overstock the ground; in confequence of which, the growth of the cows is injured, and the produce of the dairy diminished. The breed of horfes is greatly improved. Their price, in the Glasgow market, is from 15 1. to 301. Sterling.

Farm Houfes.-It must afford great pleasure to the traveller to obferve the neat farm houses, which are interspersed through this country. In this parish they are every year increafing in number, a circumftance which does no fmall credit to the proprietors. Sir ARCHIBALD EDMONSTON of Duntreath, Bart. member of Parliament for Dunbarton,fhire, in this, and, indeed, in every other parish where his exten five property lies, has furnished an example, which, it is hoped, will foon be generally followed. His tenants are all well lodged, and, comparatively speaking, elegantly. Instead of the old low-built and confined houfes, which their fathers inhabited, Sir Archibald has given them houfes and offices fuited to their refpective farins, upon a plan, which conveys an idea of neatnefs and improvement that is highly pleafing.

Woods

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