Toe only river of any consequence which can be said ea belong to Dumbartonshire, is the Leven. This stream is the outlet of Loch-lomond, after leaving which it runs with a rapid current for about live miles through a fine valley, till it joins the Clyde at Dumbarton castle. In spring and autumn there is an imperfect navigation on the Leven for lighters and small craft, which float down the stream, and arc towed by horses in an opposite di rection. The other rivers arc From, Luss, Finlay's Douglas, and Falloch, all which are mountain falling into Loch-loniond and Laggie.
In the parishes of Kit kintulloch and Cumbernauld, and also in the eastern part of the larger division of the county, the predominant soil is what in Scotland is gene rally called till; a shistose clay mixed with a few small stones, impervious to moisture, and generally incumbent on sand-stone. Along the banks of the Clyde, in the parishes of Dumbarton and West Kilpatrick, there are many fields of a rich black loam, of the most fertile qua lity, though suffering from moisture on account of their being but little elevated above the surface of the river. Some fields of nearly a similar description arc to be found on the banks of the Endrick, in the parish of Kil marnock, and of Kelvin near Kirkintulloch. On the river Leven, and to the northwest of that stream, the arable land is, for the most part, of a light gravel, mixed on the sea-shore with shells and other marine productions, and covered with a thin stratum of vegetable soil. The extent, however, of arable ground of every description is inconsiderable, as by far the greatest part of the coun ty consists of lofty mountains, incapable of any thing like cultivation. In the parish of Arroquhar, which is more than twelve miles in length and four in breadth, and con sequently must contain 24,000 acres, there are not 200 arable, or capable of being made so. This parish is in deed singularly mountainous, and rises in some places to the height of no less than 3000 feet above the level of the sea; hut the parishes of Rew, Roseneath, and Luss, are also, for the most part, composed of mountains, and have comparatively but a small proportion of arable or low pasture. In Cardross and Bonhill, there is a consi derable track of high moor ; and that part of the west division of the county which lies to the east of the river Leven, is intersected by a continuation of the lofty ridge, which crosses the island from Forfa•shire to the Frith of Clyde.
Oats have been long the grain chiefly cultivated in this county. Barley was some years ago raised to a con siderable extent, hut the high duty on malt, and the de mand for wheat, have induced the farmers to give it up in a great measure, and during that period a greater quantity of wheat has been raised. Beans are sown in greater quantities than pease, and their culture is daily becoming more general. Spring tares are the only kind to be seen, and these only on the farms of a few gentle men. Potatoes are cultivated in the most complete man ner, and with great success, and are planted on every variety of soil. Swedish, common white, and yellow turnip, and carrots, arc cultivated. Rye grass is uni versally sown for hay. White clover grows naturally on all the dry land, and red clover is sown down with rye grass, but seldom by itself. Flax is less cultiva ted than formerly, but a little is raised on almost every farm.
There is very little rich land kept exclusively for pasture. On most farms the improved husbandry pre vails; and each field in rotation, after having been pas tured two or three years, is broken up and returned for. tillage.
•Cows and oxen are chiefly brought from the west 14ighluids, and milch cows from Ayr and Renfrew : only a small proportion are reared in Dumbartonshire. The number of horses in the county, however, is by no means considerable. The only sheep in Dumbarton shire are of the -black-faced or mountain breed, with the exception of a few ;English of the Leicestershire breed, kept by some gentlemen around their houses.
An abundant and truly valuable source of melioration to this county is found in .the sea-weed, .which is cast in by the sea, and collected on its shores ; but it is reckon ed much more valuable•vhen it can be cut with sickles, at low water, in the spring, when it is in a high_state of vegetation, and full of sea salts. It can only be cut once in two years, and so soon as it is cut, it is spread very thin on the ground, and ploughed down immediately be fore its •fertilizing juices are exhaled. Lime is much used, and sometimes shell sand. The soil and grounds are, in many places, well adapted for irrigation.