Scotland/Scots > Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland

178 A JOURNEY TO THE
the male at the nfual time. Maay of the
roebucks perilhed.
!
The foil, as in other countries, has its
diverfities. In fome parts there is only a
thin layer of earth fpread upon a rock,
which bears nothing but fhort brown heath,
and perhaps is not generally capable ol any
better produdt. There are many bogs or
moffes of greater or lefs extent, where the
foil cannot be fuppofed to want depth,
though it is too wet for the plow. But we
did not obferve in thefe any aquatick plants.
The vallies and the mountains are alike
darkened with heath. Some grafs, how¬
ever, grows here and there, and fome hap¬
pier fpots of earth are capable of tillage.
Their agriculture is laborious, and per¬
haps rather feeble than unfkilful. I heir
chief manure is fea-weed, which, when they
lay it to rot upon the field, gives them a
better crop than thofe of the Highlands.
They