Kincardineshire

Kincardineshire, or The Mearns, a county on the E. coast of Scotland, bounded by Aberdeenshire on the N. and N.W- and by Forfarshire on the W. and S.W.; area, 383 square miles. The rivers Dee and North Esk flow along the N. and S. borders respectively. The mountainous district, consisting of the Grampians, which traverse the county from E. to W., is covered with forests and moors, but along the coast, and in the "Howe of the Mearns" - a continuation of the valley of Strathmore in the S. part of the county - the soil is extremely fertile. There are woollen and linen manufactures. Stonehaven (q.v.) is the chief town.