The soil of some of the islands is of inferior quality, but that of others is excellent Agriculture is limited to the raising of oats and that kind of barley which iu Scotland is called here or big, and to the cultivation of potatoes, turnips, and a few other vegetables. Barley and here are exported. Of late years improvements have taken plate, the opening of a regular steam communication with Aberdeen and Edinburgh having given a atimuluz to the rearing of cattle, for which the islands are peculiarly adapted. Cattle are numerous, but small : on several of the larger farms the Angus and short-horned breeds have been introduced with success.
Geology, &c.—Tho character of the islands is very simple; the whole group, with exception of a small grauitie district near Stromness, consisting of rocks belonging to the old red-sandstone formation. The prevailing rock is a species of sandstone flag, much charged with argillaceous matter. It occurs in distinct strata, usually slightly inclined, forming hills of small elevation inland, which how ever often present magnificent cliffs round the coasts. The colour varies from pale greenish to blackish gray. Occasionally it contains bitumen, and it is the repository of remarkable fossil fishes. Couuected with the sandstone flag are beds of common sandstone of a yellowish or tile-red colour. These form the chief part of the mountains of Hoy, the highest point in Orkney, and also several headlands in Pomona and Eday. Dykes of basalt and greenstone traverse these rocks in lioy and Pomona. The granite tract appears in the form of a chain of moderate hills, occupying a length of six miles, and a breadth of from half a mile to a mile, and ends at Stromuess. It is everywhere in immediate contact with a coarse conglomerate, consisting of nodules of quartz and frsgments of granite and sandstone imbedded in an arenaceous base.
Dirieions, Towns, dra—The Orkney and Shetland Islands form one couuty or stewartry, which returns one member to the Imperial Parliament. The Orkneys have a resident sheriff-substitute. The only towns requiring notice are Kirkwall and Stromness. Kirkwall, the chief town of the islands, and a royal and parliamentary burgh, is situated on a bay on the north coast of Pomona, in 59° 0' N. lat, 2° 57' W. long. It is governed by 2 traffics and 10 councillors, of whom one is provost. The population of the parliamentary burgh iu 1851 was 3451. It unites with Cromarty, Dingwall, Doruoch, Tain, and Wick, in the return of one member to Parliament. The town consists chiefly
of a long narrow street ; it contains several good houses and shops, and is lighted with gas. Kirkwall is the chief place of trade in the island. On December 31st, 1853, there were registered as belonging to the port-22 Teasels under 50 tons, aggregate burden 560 tons; and 21 above 50 tons, aggregate tonnage 1925. During 1853 there entered the port 187 sailing-vessels of 9813 tons, and 61 eteatn-vessels of 15,942 tons; sad there cleared 213 sailing-vessels of 11,171 tons, and 51 steam-vessels of 16,026 tons. The cathedral of St. Magnus at Kirkwall is one of the most remarkable specimens of middle-age architecture in Scotland. The erection of the cathedral appears to have been com menced by Earl Bacon in 1133, but probably only a small portion was completed by him. The nave, northern aide, and meet of the lower part of the building, is Norman, or transition to the early English style. The upper part is chiefly early English. It is a cruciform structure, 226 feet long and 56 feet wide. The building is used as the parish church. Close to the cathedral are the ruins of the bishop's palace, and of the palace of Earl Patrick Stewart, the last feudal earl of Orkney, who was executed for high treason in the reign of James I. There are in the town a chapel of ease, a Free church, a spacious new chapel for the United Presbyterians, a chapel for Independents, and an Endowed Grammar school of great antiquity. Stroatness, a burgh of barony and seaport, situated towards the south-western extremity of Pomona, in 53' 55' N. lat., 9° 18' W. long., has also a good harbour. The population in 1851 was 2055. The town, which is irregularly built, contains Established, Free, and United Presbyterian places of worship ; two schools, supported by subscription ; a public library ; and a museum of natural history. It has considerable trade. The port is subordinate to Kirkwall.
llistory, Antiquities, tte.—The Orkneys were early taken possession of by the Northmen, and remained subject to the kings of Norway and Denmark till 1463, but had their own earls, who governed them almost as independent sovereigns. The islands were the general rendezvous of the piratical fleets which so often devastated the coasts of England and France. In 1463 they were mortgaged to Scotland for 50,000 florins, the dowry of Queen Margaret of Denmark ; the pledge was never redeemed, and from that time the islands have belonged to Scotland.