Gazetteer of Scotland

INTRODUCTION. Is
Highland 'Society of Scotland, who offer premiums for the improvement of
wafte lands, the melioration of the breeds of black cattle and fheep, and
other agricultural fubjects, which will no doubt be attended with the beft
effect.
WATER.
After the defcription already given of the lakes and rivers, which diverfify
the furface of Scotland, we haVe no need to be particular on this article. In
almoft every part of the country, particularly the hilly diftrict, water is not
only plenteous, but of the fineft quality, defcending from fprings, in the face
of the mountains or rocks, in ftreams pure as cryftal; and there are few places
where excellent water is not to be found by digging, at a fmal! depth from
the furface.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS.
Under this head, perhaps, a fuccinct account might be given of the ftate of
agriculture and farming ; but fuch a difquilition would too far extend our*
limits, and lead us from the general plan of the work : fuffice it to fay, that
the laudable example of the greater proprietors has contributed much to the
improvement of the country. Still, from the well known principle of human
nature, the reluctance to change old cuftoms, and to relinquifh habits fanc-
tioned and eftablilhed by time, an almoft infuperable obftacle is prefented to
general improvement. This averfion to new plans, or, as they are termed,
innovations of eftablifned cuftoms, is now wearing off; and, it is hoped, from
the improvements already introduced, and the exertions of the Board of Agri-
culture lately eftablilhed, that a fpirit of improvement will be diffufed, which
will furmount any obftinacy that remains, and make the practical farmers
open their eyes to their true interefts. Let them be taught, that the number
of citizens, and not the extent of territory, is the true criterion of national
wealth ; and that the increafe of population can be fupported only by re-
fources drawn from their own territory, raifed and augmented by the im-
provement of agriculture. In fpeaking of this fubject, we could almoft adopt
the words of a late author, in a furvey of a county given in to the Board of
Agriculture. " Had I," fays this almoft enthufiaftic writer, " the powers of
perfuafion, equal to the conviction I have of the importance of this maxim, I
would proclaim it to my country, from the point of Shetland to th'e Land's