JOHNSTONE

johnstone, a police burgh of renfrewshire, scotland, on the black cart, 11 m. w. of glasgow by the glasgow & south-western railway. pop. (1901), 10,503. the leading industries include flax-spinning, cotton manufactures (with the introduction of which in 1781 the prosperity of the town began), paper-making, shoe-lace making, iron and brass foundries and engineering works. there are also coal mines and oil works in the vicinity. elderslie, 1 m. e., is the reputed birthplace of sir william wallace, but it is doubtful if "wallace's yew," though of great age, and "wallace's oak," a fine old tree that perished in a storm in 1856, and the small castellated building (traditionally his house) which preceded the present mansion in the west end of the village, existed in his day.