NVIGTONSIIIRE, a maritime county in the south-west of Scotland, bounded E by Kirkcudbrightshire, N. by Ayrshire, W. by the Irish Channel, and S, by the Irish Sea, lies between 54' 36' and 55' 4' N. let., 4' 1G' and 5' 12' W. long. The county is about 30 mile' long and 30 miles broad from the extreme points; its area if 326,736 acre,. The population of the county was 39,195 in 1811, and 43,389 in 1851.
Coast-Lise.—The sea-coast of Wigtonahire is indented by several spacious bays. Wigton Bay, on the east, diminlahes from a width of 8 in las until it terminated in the river Cree. Luce Bay forms an indentation In the southern part of the county, and stretches inwards about 15 miles : the distance between the two headlands of Burrow Head and the Mull of Galloway is about 15 miles, the Mull being about a mile and a half farther south, and the most southern point of Scotland. The point of the Mull, on which there is a lighthouse, is a peninsula of about a mile and a quarter long by a quarter of a mile wide. The small inland of Whithorn, about 3 miles N.E. from Burrow Head, affords safe and commodious shalt r fur shipping. Lochryan Bay, which is also a safe and commodious harbour, on the north-west, extends country about 8 miles, to Stranraer, its breadth vary ing from 2 to 4 mile.. No part of the county is above 13 miles from the sea.
Savfeee, Ilydrography,anciConsmunications.—The 'surface of Wigton shire, though consisting of eminences and hills of considerable height, is said to be less elevated above the level of the sea than any other county in Scotland. The principal eminences are Mull Bill, Mont lokowre, Buoman, Cairehill, Cairn of Dolt, and Grennan Hill, which vary from 400 to 900 feet in height. It may bo divided into three districts :—the Ithy nes (peninsula), lying west of a line drawn between Lnce Bay and Lochryan ; the 3lachers (fiat country), lying between Wigton and Luce bays ; and the Moors, which include the remainder, being more than one-third of the whole county. The freshwater lochs are numerous, but small, and occupy en area of eaaut 74 square miles. Dowaltou, in the Machers, the largest, is about two miles long by a mile and a half broad. The only navigable rivers are the Cree
and the Bladenoch. The Cress rises in Ayrshire and separates this county from Kirkcudbright before it falls Into Wigton Bay. It is navigable for about 4 miles. The Bladenoch has a circuitous course of about 21 miles in the county before it falls into Wigton Bay. It IA navigable for a few only. The river Luce, which falls into lame Bay after a course of 21 miles from the borders of Ayrshire, is easily crossed on foot, except when floods occur. The other streams of the county are oomparatively insignificant. Salmon abound in those streams, and on the coast there are several valuable stake-net fisheries.
Geolvy.—Ths most prevalent rocks are primary transition and seconder,' schiste. Orauwacke.grenwacke elate, and argillaceoue schist are particu any abundant. Beds of gmuwackc occur of all thick nesses from a few Inches to as many feet, of hard compact grain, and of a blue or grayish brown colour, for the most part breaking irregu larly, but often splitting Into parallel slices.
Clem ate, Soil, Agriculture, (tr.—The climate of the county is exceed ingly mild and salubrious : Wigtonsbire is indeed sometimes called the Dseonehire of Scotland. Of late years drainage has been scientifically carried out ; the most Improved implements are in use, and the appli cation of the new manures is general. Towards the coast much of the land is excellent, such as the Baldoon estate, the reclaimed Moss of Cree, and the holm or lowlands around Garlieston and Whithorn.
The general soil on the coast-land is either alluvial or sandy loam, and under careful culture is capable of yielding any kind of crop. The soil of the Machera and the Rhynus consists for the most pert of a hazelly loam, dry, and adapted for the turnip husbandry. There is a tract of rich alluvial land in the eastern part of the county, which extends from the parish of Kirkenner to Newton-Stewart. The Moors are bleak and barren, and in many places consist of peat-land partially covered with water. Grazing is much attended to in the county. The land is mostly under entail, and let in farms of moderate size, generally for leases of 19 years.