Soil, Climate, Agriculture, &c.—Owing to its mountainous character a large portion of this county is ill adapted for cultivation. There are some extensive tracts of moor, bog, and mess. A large space is occu pied either by natural woodlands or by plantations. The larch is generally planted in dry soils, and the spruce where there is moisture.
.The most valuable tract of cultivated land In the county is the 'Cares of Gewrieh the district watered by the Isla and its tributaries the Itrieht and the Airdle, and extending into Forfarshire. It is • low alluvial district, the finest, in an agricultural point of view, of any in Sootland. The lower part of Stmtheern, or the vale of Earn, another low alluvial tract, is scarcely inferior to it. The vale of the Tay, above Perth, and the vales of the Forth and Teith, contain exten• alas tracta of low alluvium or of gravelly sandy loam. The size of the farms varies from 50 to 500 acres ; and in the lower distriete they are universally held on lease, commonly for 15 or 19 years ; some of the Small Highland occupiers are yearly tenants. The Cane of Gowns, Strathearn, and the valleys of the Teith and the Forth yield good wheat and beans ; but in the midland districts oat. and barley are the principal grain crops. Turnip cultivation has been carried to a con siderable extent. The chief article of agricultural produce is the potato, of which great quantities are yearly sent to London by railway. Considerable quantities of apples, pears, and other fruit are raised in the valleys and low grounds, particularly in the Cares of Gowrle.
There is no breed of cattle peculiar to the county. Ayrshire cows for the dairy have been introduced of late years into the lowlands. The Whit Highland breed is that commonly on the Highland pastures. The number of sheep has been vastly anginent A, by the laying out of sheepwalka in the Highland tracts. The usual breeds ars the black-faced Tweedd.tle and Cheviot. There are some Leicester* and Sonthdowns.
Diriaions, Thew, ehh—This county was formerly divided into the districts of Cowrie, ]'girth, Stormont, Strathearu, Meuteith, Bread albane, Italquhidder, and Rannoch, each of which was iu the jurisdiction of a distinct sheriff' or steward. These divisions are now obsolete, though the names are still popularly applied to the districts. To these sissy be aided the Highland district of Arnoth The number of parishes in the county is 75, which form several presbyteries.
Priem and CCLROSS are royal burghs; AUCTITEIIARDER, and Dun thane were formerly royal burghs; Abernethy, Atrnr, CRIEFF, CUPAli ANGCS, and Dnnkeld are burghs of barony. Those printed in small capitals are described under their respective title.. Of the others, as
well as of the more important villages, we subjoin brief notices; the populations are those of 1851.
Abernethy, at the junction of the Earn with the Tay, is 7 miles S.E. from Perth : population of the burgh of barony 972. It was anciently the capital of the Picts, and the seat of a bishopric. Abernethy is chiefly remarkable for the possession of a round tower, which ie built of hewn stone, and is 74 feet high, and 48 feet in circumference at the Noe, but diminishes towards the top. It serves as a belfry and clock tower to the church, which stands near, and is a modern building.
Dosehlane, population 1816, anciently a seat of the Culdees, and subsequently a cathedral city, is situated about 0 miles N. from Stirling, on the left bank of the Allan. The town consists of a street of old-faahionei houses and a few lanes. The former cathedral, the choir of which (SO feet by 30 feet) isnow used as the parish church, is a large gothic building, seated on an eminence. Every part, except the choir, is dilapidated. The nave is 130 feet by 58 feet. The choir was repaired, and the windows were renewed, in 1819 by the Earl of Knwn'. The Free Church, United Presbyterians, Independents, and Episcopalians hare places of worship. A modern steeple, 123 feet high, ha. been erected adjacent to the church. Them is a public library, the foundation of which was a bequest of books by Leighton, archbishop of Glasgow, who held for a time the see of Dunblane.
Doni-eld, population of the town 1101, a burgh of barony and market town, or city, as it is often termed, ie situated on the left bank of the Tay, 15 miles N. from Perth, in a deep hollow under the brow of lofty wooded hills. The town attracts many visitors by the beauty of its situation and its convenience as the entrance upon the Ilighlinds. There was an ancient monastery of Culdees here, and iu 1127 it was made the seat of a bishopric. The cathedral, which was partly of Norman, partly of later architecture, is in ruins, except the choir, which serves as the pariah church. The tower is 24 feet square at its base, and Is 96 feet high. Epitscopaliens, Independents, and Free Church Presbyterians have chapel.. The Macintosh library was founded by the Rev. Donald Macintosh, the last of the conjuring clergy of the old Episcopal Church of Scotland. The Royal Grammar school of Dunkeld, founded by James VI. in 1567, has an average attendance of about 80 scholars. There is a girls school, founded in 1783 by Jane, Duchess of Athol. The market is held on Saturday : five fairs are held iu the course of the year. A fine bridge of seven arches crosses the Tay ; it was erected in 1809 by the Duke of Athol.