Soil, Agriculture, kc—The arable land of the county lies on an elevation of from 280 to 800 feet: none of it therefore is the beat as to climate. Wheat abounds in the lower districts, and has been raised, at the height of 700 feet, to what would be called a good crop in the Lothiana; and considerably higher, near to the head of Ettrick, oats, turnips, barley, and clover hay thrive in regular rota tion. (' New Statistical Account of Scotland.') The soil is light and dry, and the harvest comparatively early. The quantity of land constantly under tillage is small, the dampness of the climate rendering the county more appropriate for pasturage.
The cattle are chiefly of the Teeswater breed. Highland cattle are also grazed on the hills. Black-Eked sheep are reared on the high pasturage., where they are found to thrive best. Cheviots and Leicestera have been introduced. Considerable attention is paid to breeding. The most improved modes of culture and the best imple ments have been introduced. The houses of the tenants have generally been rebuilt in better situations and in better style than before. The food and clothing of the people have been both considerably improved. The banks of the streams are generally well-wooded, and often picturesque. Planting has been considerably extended. The indigenous wood is chiefly oak (cut down periodically for the bark), ash, cider, birch, elm, hazel, hawthorn, mountain-ash, &et Divisions, Towns, ekc.—The county contains nine parishes or parts of parishes. Of these only two, Ettrick and Yarrow, are wholly included in the county. The only towns are Selkirk and Galashlels.
Selkirk, • royal burgh and market-town, and the county town, lies on the right bank of the Ettrick, 36 miles S.S.E. from Edinburgh.
• The population in 1951 was 3314. In the middle ages Selkirk was a town of some importance. The town was burnt by the English soon after the battle of llodden, and in the civil war of Charles I. Montrose was here inarprised and by the Covenanters under David Lady in 1615. Selkirk has one principal street, expanding In one part into a triangular market-place, with a conspicuous public well in the centre.
The town contains many good houses. The parish church is in the town; and there are two chapels for United Presbyterians, and ono each for the Free church, the Independents, and the Episcopalians. Tho town-hall has a spire 110 feet high. Close to the town aro flour mills, some stocking-looms, a fulling-mill, and a small tan-yard. There is a small prison for the burgh and county. Iu the town are tho parochial school, the Burgh school, two endowed schools, a savings bank, a parochial library, two subscription libraries, and a reading room.
Galashirls, a considerable manufacturing town, is situated on the right bank of the Gala, just above its junction with the Tweed, about 6 miles N.E. from Selkirk, and 33 miles S. from Edinburgh by the Hawick
railway. The population in 1851 was 9918. A bridge over the Gala connects the town with the village of Buckholmside in Roxburghshire. The church is a gothic building of considerable size ; and there aro two chapels for United Presbyterians, and one each for the Free Church sod the Independents. Part of the town is included in the burgh of barony of Galashiela. There are the parochial school ; a subscription school ; two libraries, a reading-room, and a savings bank. Galashiels has long been distinguished for its woollen manufactures, the most considerable of the kind in the south of Scotland. For a considerable period coarse cloths wore chiefly made, such as are worn by shepherds and mechanics, popularly known as Galashiels grays; fine broad cloths are now produced ; and a hall has been established for the sale of the various fabrics.
IIistory and Antiquities.—This part of Scotland appears to have belonged originally to the Gadeni. On the retreat of the Romans it was overrun by the Anglo-Saxons of Northumbria. At this time it was a forest, and had few settled inhabitants. With the exception of the Cattail there are very few British or Roman remains. Is ear the south-eastern border are a few bill-forts, with a square Roman camp in the midst of them • and there are traces of two camps and of a Romau road in parish. After the cession of the southern part of Scotland by the Anglo-Saxon princes, the Scottish kings had a residence at Selkirk. It was probably established as a county before the death of Alexander I I. It belonged in the 15th century to the Douglases. In 1503 the hereditary sheriffdom was granted to Murray of Falahill, whose descendants held it till the abolition of hereditary juriadictions. Several castles were erected in this county: there was one at Selkirk early in the 12th century, which was occasionally used as a royal residence ' • and near it was another castle, called Oldwark; but of neither of them is them now any remains The ruins of' Oakwood and Newark (that is, New-work, as distinguished from Old•work), both near Selkirk, are yet standing.
Statistic: : Religious Worship and Education.— According to the Rennin of the Census in 1851 there were then in the county 15 places of worship, of which 5 belonged to the Established Church, 5 to the Free Church, 2 to United Presbyterians, and 1 each to Independents, Clam/Rea, and the Evangelical Union. The number of sittings pro vided in 10 of these places of worship was 3113. Of day schools there were 21, of which 15 were public schools with 016 scholars, and 9 private schools with 392 scholars. There wcro eleven Sabbath schools with 711 scholars.
Sayings Bank.--In 1853 the county possessed one savings bank, at Selkirk. The amount owing to depositors on November 20th 1853 was 62091. 11a 6d.