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few. thriving plantations, interſperſed villages and houſes ou the poſſeſlions of the inhabitants. Some intervening moraſſes, and extenſive muirs, likewiſe variegate and blot the ſurface. The beautiful margin of Lochleven, near Kinroſs, is moſt unne- ceſlarily ſet of by a foil of this kind 3; a common muir of more than 300 acres, lying in the. neighbourhood of that town, and in the very centre of the county. The aſped of the whole of the ſhire is open and expoſed, there being little of it encloſ- ed, and the fences being for the moſt part of ſtone walls. Hedges and hedge-row trees have been raiſed in a few ſpots

only.

Climate.--In the higher grounds, the climate is cold and wet. This is owing to the elevation of the land, and chiefly to the hills which attra& the clouds and vapours in their courſe. Froſt ſets in ſomewhat more early, and continues longer than in the adjacent diſtricts to the ſouth. The air 18 generally clear, which is conducive to the health of the in- habitants. The ſouth weſt wind is ſometimes very high, but is ſuppoſed to be advantageous, carrying off the ſuperabundant moiſture colleCed on the lower grounds, by the copious and numerous ſprings from the declivities of the hills. The high winds, however, are ſometimes hurtful to the crop in harveſt, by ſhaking it if too ripe. To guard againſt this occaſional but fatal danger, requires all the ſkill and induſtry of the huſbandman."The pariſh of Portmoak is in ſome de- gree ſheltered from the cold eaſterly winds, which, in the ſpring ſeaſon, are ſeverely felt upon the ſouth and eaſt coaſts of Fife. But it is expoſed to the north weſt winds, which, blowing acroſs the Ochil hills covered with ſnow, and along the ſurface of the loch, becomes intenſely cold. On the whole, however, it may be ſafely aſſerted, that the air is ſalu«

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brieus, the people vigorous, and ſubjed to few diſtempers; p] ; and