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The vale is very fertile, and bears excellent grain. It is in general pretty level, which makes the draining of it rather difficult, eſpecially as conſiderable ſprings burſt out at the bottom of the Ochills; and, on any ſudden violent ſhowers in the hills, many ſmall burns or ſtreams of water run down the ſide of the mountains, and at length fall into the Dovan, which adds conſiderably to the rapid riſe of that river, which is often flooded. A remark- able one happened in September 1785, which raiſed the river upwards of 14 feet above the common level, car- rying on great quantities of corn, at the very time when it was nearly fit for being put into the ſtack or barn yard.

Culroſs is the only royal borough in this diſtrict. Its in- habitants ſcarcely amount to 1000 ſouls. In the time of James VI. it was a place of ſome note, for its collieries and falt-works. The number of ſalt-pans then in uſe, amounted, as it is aflerted, to no leſs than 50."The coal- works were the molit confiderable in Scotland. The parlia- ment, in 1663, ordained, that the Culroſs-chalder ſhould be the ſtandard-meaſure for Scotland. The keeping of this (tandard-meaſure was intruſted to the town-council: but, on the decay of the coal, it has been unfortunately loſt. Conſiderable quantity of iron-ball-ſtone are found near the Curface, in this pariſh, of various ſizes, and of the beſt qua- ity. There is likewiſe ſome ochre in the pariſh: and, by the reſearches of the Earl of Dundonald, there has been Jately diſcovered ſome extenſive beds of a valuable clay, fit for the pottery and glaſs-houſe purpoſes."The harbour is bad; and, by being little frequented, is daily growing worſe. There is now no veſſel of any conſequence belonging to the borough.

The thriving village of Kincardine ſhews what induſtry well-direted can do: About 60 years 280, an extenſive colliery and ſalt-works were carried on here: but the col- Jiery has been given up for ſome time; and, of courſe, the making

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