The number of hands employed in the pursuits of agri culture, may fairly be estimated at 20,000, without taking into account the great numbers who are occasionally em ployed in seed-time and harvest, and in weeding and hay making during summer. About two-thirds of the county are considered arable, a 26th part under woods and planta tions, and the remainder either consisting of mountainous pastures or sandy wastes. The farms vary much in point of size, some scarcely exceeding 20 acres, while others ex tend to 800 acres. The rent is by no means in proportion to the quantity of ground occupied ; and therefore we se lect the following statement from Mr Headrick, to point out the relative value of the different farms, arranged ac cording to the rents paid.
The farm-houses of this county were formerly mean and wretched ; now they are neat and comfortable. The butt and the ben have been exchanged for more fashionable, and, in this instance we must admit, more convenient apart ments. Some of the houses are still built of clay, which, when properly wrought, is no mean substitute for stone and lime. In general, however, they are built of red sand stone or whinstone, and sometimes roofed with thatch, or blue slate, or sandstone flag. On a farm of from 100 to 200 acres, there is a dwelling-house built with stone and Erne, of two stories, often lathed and plastered on the in side. The offices commonly form three sides of a square, built of the same materials, and of size corresponding to the extent of the farm. The ordinary duration of a lease is 19 years, and in sonic cases two years longer. The rents, in general, are paid in money : where grain is paid in rent, it is usually converted into money at the fair prices. In many parts, the farms are under the most judicious ma nagement, while, in some of the higher districts, ancient prejudices and habits still prevail. It would be difficult to enumerate the different kinds of grain raised in the county, any farther than by barely specifying the kinds. if has been long cultivated here, and formed a considerable por tion of the rent paid to the ancient monastery of Aberbro thick. It has been known to weigh 17 stone Si pounds English, per boll. White wheat is the variety generally preferred ; red wheat, although it yields a heavier crop, is more liable to disease. Spring wheat has been tried, but wiGout success. Bear, here called Chester, still occupies the higher districts, and has been displaced by another spe cies, pro'ably its inferior in several essential qualities.
Barley is universally cultivated in the best improved dis tricts. It sometimes weighs 22i, stones Dutch, per boll. It is in common use as barley-meal and as pot-barley. Oat4 are here raised in considerable quantities. Several kinds are cultivated, such as the common or Angus oat, Mains lie oat, barley oat, potatoe oat, Dutch oat,and the grey oat, which last at least is a distinct species. The potatoe oat has been known to weigh 17 stone Dutch, per boll. Rye is cultivated only on thin sandy soils, which are unfit for raising the more bulky and profitable crops ; such occur at Montrose, Panbride, Barry,and Monifieth. Flax is still raised in the county in considerable quantity, although not to the extent which might be considered expedient. Hemp is never even attempted. The manures principally em ployed are, farm-yard dung. lime, mall, and sea-weed.
The ancient breed of horses was the small sheltie or gar row, and this breed still remains nearly pure and unmixed among the Grampian mountains, where numbers of horses are required to convey home from the mountains winter fuel, and to perform other operations, where there are either no roads, or those very steep and rugged. In the lower districts, bordering on the Grampians, these have been greatly increased in size, in consequence of being provided with better food and warmer shelter. In the more fertile districts, the Lanarkshire breed prevails. It is cal culated that there are 9000 horses in the county, and these are estimated at 220,2701. The black cattle are principally the old Highland kind; and, where attention is paid to the dairy, the more improved breeds have been introduced. Among the Grampians, from four to six Scots pints of milk each day is the usual quantity ; and, in the more fertile dis tricts, from eight to ten pints is the general average. Sheep. abound in many districts of the county. The mountain sheep, in an unmixed state, may be found among the Gram pians. The black-faced or Linton are more numerous. Besides these, small flocks of the Bakewell, the Culley, or the Cheviot breeds, are to be seen in the parks of the gen try. At least two breeds of swine are found here, which may be regarded as natives. Rabbits are by no means at tended to as their importance demands. The roe and the stag still exist in the county ; and the fallow deer has pro tection in one park.
The manufactures of this county are numerous and im portant. Among these, the manufacture of linen stands in the first rank. On an average there are about 11 millions of yards stamped annually, the greatest part of which is ex ported from the county. Dependent on the manufacture of linen, are several extensive bleachfields and spinning mills. The county likewise possesses several excellent harbours, as Dundee, Aberbrothick, and Montrose. There are two customhouses, the one at Dundee, having the ju risdiction of the ports in the Tay up to Newbury ; and the one at Montrose has the superimendance of the port of Aberbrothick. To the port of Dundee belong 147 ves sels; to Aberbrothick 56 , and to Montrose 67. The whole tonnage of the county amounts to 21,359 tons.
The coast of Angus abounds with every useful variety of esculent fish. The cod, the haddock, the flounder, and turbot, are in abundance ; and yet the quantity taken is by no means great. In the Tay, salmon are caught in consi derable numbers, and sent to the London market packed in ice. Lobsters are obtained on different parts of the tacky coasts.
There are many excellent roads in Forfarshire ; and there are abundance of materials for keeping them in re pair. The only bridge deset wing of notice is the one over the North Esk, which connects the parish of Montrose with the county of Mearns. It was built by subscription, to which government granted very liberal aid.
For fltrther particulars, the reader is referred to the Rev. Robert Edward's Description of Angus, first pub lished in 1678, and republished at Dundee in 1793. Colo nel Imrie's " Section of the Grampians," Trans. Royal Soc. of Edin. vol. vi. The Rev. James Headrick's Agri cultural Survey of Angus, 1813. Dr Fleming " On the Rocks near Dundee," Mem. IVer. Soc. vol. ii. (J. FG.)