1 36“: 3 zd orf neutralized by means of lime, the moßiy ſoil, and everl pure peat-earth, acquire a good texture and quality, and are fit for the produttion of all the plants, that are commonly cultivated in this county.

"The improvements that have lately been made on the re- duction of peat-moſies, by Captain Smith of Swinridgemuir, Ayrſhire, are likely to be univerſally pradtiſed, where peat- moſs is in the neighbourhood of limeſtone, or where lime can be bad at a ſmall expence.

In the pariſh of Portmoak, the ſoil is chiefly that kind which is commonly denoted ſandy and light: it is confider- ably dry, and produces rich and early crops. There is no ground in the county, capable of more quick and ample re- turns for the labours beſtowed upon itz and yet, with all theſe advantages, it is far from being well cultivated. The ſoil of that part of the arable ground, which lies ſouth of the Leven, is ſomewhat later than the one above mentioned; bat it is alfo very valuable and capable of much improvement. In this pariſh are 300 acres of pcat-moſs, the greater part of which is covered with heath. In the bottom are frequently found large oak trees, exhibiting every proof of their being originally natives of the ſoil where they are lying, but now Covered with moſs.

Clay ſoil prevails in the weft end of the parifh of Cleiſh; the middle is occupied chießy with a gravelly, and the ſouth part with a tilly ſoil. All the kinds are generally deep and fertile; but a northern expoſure, and a great degree of damp- neſs, render it peculiarly adapted for graſs. In ſeveral parts of the pariſh, the ſoilbeing above Nrata of freeſtone, is com- monly retentive of moiſture, is of a boggy and ſpongy texture, and is always covered with heath, if the ſtone 15 near the ſur face."This is doubtleſs owing, as well to the moſiy nature of the earth, as to the ſolid ſtratum of ſtone, which does not readily permit the moiſture to ſubſide from the ſuperincum- bent