FORFARSHIRE. The Grampian Hills, in this Scottish are of granite, having frequently topazes and rock crystal in its cavities and fissures. There are also lime stone slate, porphyry, and lead ore. In the Strathmore district there is a shell-marl, which is procured in large quantities from beneath beds of peat-moss at the bottom of several ancient lochs which have been drained chiefly for this purpose ; it is dragged up by means of iron scoops, worked from boats, and is used for manure. Iron and pipe-clay occur in this district. The maritime district contains beds of sandstone and extensive . quarries of limestone. Fragments of granite . from the Grampians lie strewed about the r lower ground. Coal of an inferior quality has been traced a little to the west of Aber , brothwick. The poor, who cannot obtain coal ' without difficulty, procure for fuel peat, brush wood, broom, and furze.
' It may in general be stated that almost every useful improvement has been adopted in the modes and implements of agriculture in this county. Inclosures are made chiefly by stone dykes in the highlands, and by quick thorn hedges in the plains of Strathmore and towards the sea. The chief crops are oats, barley, and wheat. Much of the oat crop is
consumed by horses and exported from the county. Oatmeal porridge, eaten with milk or beer, forms the breakfast and supper of the labouring classes, among whoni oat cakes are still much used as bread. Considerable quan tities of wheat are annually exported to Lon don and other ports, and some American, Danzig, and other foreign wheats are imported to mix with that produced in the county. Barley is much used in the county for broth, porridge, and cakes. There are about 40,000 acres of natural pasture. The grazing and stall feeding of cattle are prosecuted to a much greater extent than the rearing, large numbers being, brought into the county to be fed and prepared for the butcher.
The deep-sea fishing off the eastern coast is very productive, and large quantities of salmon and smaller fish are taken in the Frith of Tay, and at the mouths of several streams from thence to the North Esk. Cod, ling, herring, haddocks, turbots, sole, skate, sprats, smelts, lobsters, crabs, mussels, and fresh water fish are all abundant. The chief manufactures of the county are represented by those of its busiest town. [Duxnxz.]