Gazetteer of Scotland

S>E R
ttlore pleasant scenes of fertile and well
cultivated fields in the immediate vi-
cinity. The soil of Perthshire also
consists of all the varieties known in
Scotland ; the carse and loamy being
prevalent on the banks of the rivers,
and sandy and tilly soil being preva-
lent on the sides of the hills. In
many places are extensive mosses,
particularly in Monteath, in which is
situated the moss of Kincardine.
Like all Highland countries, Perth-
shire abounds with lakes and rivers,
which occupy extensive vallies, lying
between lofty mountains. The two
greatest rivers are the Tay and Forth,
which collect many streams in their
course to the German ocean. The
Tay, after rising on the borders of
Argyllshire, and forming Loch Tay,
directs its course to the S. E. receiv-
ing the waters of the Lyon, the Gar-
ry, the Bran, the Isla, the Almond,
and the Erne. The Forth, after ris-
ing in Dumbartonshire, receives, in its
course through Perthshire, the waters
Of the Teath, the Allan, and the Do-
van. Besides these, the Endrick and
the Blane, rising in Monteath, direct
their course W. towards Loch Lo-
mond. The principal lakes are Loch
Tay, Loch Rannoch, Loch Erne,
Loch Dochart, Loch Catherine, part
of Loch Ericht, &c. Some of the
highest mountains in Scotland rear
their cloud-capt summits in this
county. Benlawers, the third moun-
tain in Britain, rises from the side of
Loch Tay to the height of 4015 feet
above the level of the sea; Benmore,
at the head of Glendochart, is 3903
feet above that level ; Shichallion, in
Rannoch, 3564; Benledi, in Mon-
teath, is 3009 feet above the same le-
vel ; besides which Beinglo, Benchon-
iie, Benvoirlich, Torleum, Sec. are of
Very considerable elevation. The cli-
mate of Perthshire must partake of
the variety of the soil and surface.
The vallies are in general warm and
I early, but are subject to the weeping
climate, which is the constant curse
of mountainous countries. No part
of the flat ground is so cold as the
countries N. of this county, nor so
warm as the shires to the S. ; but,
being an inland district, it enjoys a
more equable temperature than on
the coast. The mildness of the cli-
mate may be inferred from a variety
^PER:
of circumstances, of which the fofa f
lowing are worthy of notice : in" some
of the vallies of the Grampians', bar-
ley has been reaped in good order 9
weeks after it was sown : in the year
1743, Sir Patrick Murray of Oucli-
tertyi'e had his sown grass in the rick
upon the 15th day of May old style ;
and, upon the 29th'of the same month,
there were six Scots pints of straw-
berries on his table, raised in the open
garden. Horticulture is making ra-.
pid progress in Perthshire. There
are many extensive orchards, particu-
larly in the Carse of Gowrie, which
has long been famous for fruit. In
the vicinity of Perth, and in the die*
trict of Monteath, fruit is also raised
in great quantities. Irt former times
the greater part of this extensive
county has been covered with wood,
which the progress of agriculture has'
in many districts removed ; but in.
every moss, in the flat land, in the
vallies, or on the tops of the hills,
roots and trunks of large trees are.
found. The fir wood of Rannoch is
very extensive; and the proprietor,
Mr. Robertson of Strowan, draws an-
nually a considerable revenue from it.
It covers 2566 acres. The detached
woods of oak, birch, and alder, be-
longing to the same gentleman, cover
3S69 acres. Besides these, in Athol,
in Braidalbin, and in Monteath, there
are extensive forests. Within the last
40 years, plantations have greatly in-
creased, particularly of the larix, and
different hardwoods. Besides Perth,
the county town, Perthshire contains
another royal borough, viz. Culross ;
several towns which formerly enjoyed
the privileges of royal boroughs, as
Auchterderran, Abernethy, and Dum-
blane ; several boroughs of barony,
as Dunkeld, Crieff, Longforgan, Cu-
par, Alyth, &c. besides about 60 other
considerable villages, as Kincardine,
Callander, Muthil, Blairgowrie, Inch-
ture, &c. Of the numerous seats of
the nobility and gentry which orna-
ment this county, we can only note a
few of the most remarkable. Blair
Castle in Athol, and Dunkeld House,
seats of the Duke of Athol ; Tay-
mouth, the seat of the Earl of Braid*
albin; Duplin Castle, the seat of the
Earl of Kinnoul ; Drummond Castle,
the seat of the family of Perth ; Ouch-
tertyre, the seat of Sir Patrick Mur-
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