The western and south-western parts of Prussia, comprising Rhenish Prussia, West phalia, and Hesse-Nassau, are quite distinct in their physical character from the rest of Prussia. They are divided by the Rhine into two portions, each of which has an ele vated and a low plain. On the w. bank of the river, the level land terminates in the north ern extremity of the Vosges, or, as they are here called, the Hardt, mountains, and extends northward as far as Aix-la-Chapelle. This table-land is broken along the banks of the Moselle by ranges of the Ilochwald and the Soonwald, the highest summit of which, WaldabsenkoR, attains an elevation of about 2,700 feet. The plain n. of the Moselle, which is known as the Eifel and the Hohe Veen, has a mean elevation of 1600 ft., with a few higher hills. The level country between the Rhine and Maas, bordering the Eifel, is extremely fertile. On the e. side of the Rhine, the table-land, rising along the banks of that river and the Main, terminates in the ridge of the Taunus, whose highest sum mit, the Feldberg, attains a height of inure than 2,800 feet. Iu the u., the plain ends in the Westerwald between the Lahti and the Sieg, and in the Sauerland between the Sieg and the Ruhr. The Teutoburrerwald and the Harz mountains cut off this region from the sandy and heathy wastes of northern Prussia. The soil is generally poor in these districts, which, however, possess special sources of wealth in their iron and coal mines. But Hesse-Cassel, which forms part of the central plateau of Germany, is particularly fruitful, cereals of all kinds growing abundan tly.
The narrow valley of the Rhine is noted as one of the most picturesque and beautiful parts of Germany. The Rhine (q.v.) is navigable throughout its entire course in Prussia, which it traverses from s. to n., receiving numerous other rivers—as the Lahn, Wied, Shig, Wupper, Ruhr, Lippe, Berke!, and Vechte on the right; and on the left, the Ah• and the Moselle, the latter of which is navigable for more than 150 in. within the Prussian dominions. The Weser, the Elbe, the Oder, and the Vistula, as also the Spree and the Havel, ;diluents of the Elbe, are of high importance for the inland navigation of Prussia, and are each discussed in special articles. The great rivers of north Germany arc con nected by an extensive system of canals, such as the Seckenburger, the Friedrichsgraben, the Finow, Bromberger, and Friedrich Wilhelms, and the Plauensche.
Climate, Prod acts, climate of Prussia presents great differences in the east ern and western provinces—the former being exposed to heavy snow-storms in the winter, and great droughts in the summer, and with a mean annual temperature of 43°, has a summer mean temperature of 61°, and winter, 25° Palm ; while the latter, which have milder winters, and a larger fall of rain, have a mean annual temperature of 49°.5—
summer, 63°, and winter, 35° Fahr.
Agriculture and the rearing of cattle constitute the principal sources of employment and wealth of the rural population of the entire monarchy, and the state has hitherto directed its unremitting attention to the furtherance of the one, and the improvement of the other; abrogating onerous land-taxes, advancing money to landowners, 'encouraging agricultural institutions, introducing approved breeds of animals, and improved farm implements, etc. About one-half, or 12,000 000, of the population of the kingdom are engaged in agriculture as their sole or chief occupation. Large estates, as a rule, are only to 1:e found in the eastern and least populated provinces of the monarchy. A survey, taken in 1838, gave 1,099,000Iandowners, possessing each less than 5 molten, or 81 acres. Wheat, rye, oats, barley, peas, millet, rape-seed, maize, linseed, tobacco, flax, hemp, hops, chicory, are extensively cultivated, and largely exported. The finest grain districts are the Bbrde, near Magdeburg, the low-lands on the Wartha and Netze, and ou the o Plne and Madhe lakes, the north-eastern parts of Pomerania, the island of Rriffen, the valleys of the Oder in Silesia, of the Saale, Moselle, Saar. and parts of Hesse-Nassan. Potatoes have of late years been largely grown. Western Prussia is noted for its excel lent fruits and vegetables, and its provinces stand pre-eminent for,their wines. Nassau is specially famous for its Rhine wines. Hochheimer, Rudesheimer. and Asmanushailser. The forest-lands, which are chiefly in East Prussia, Posen, Upper Silesia, Westphalia, Southern Hanover, and Hesse-Nassan, are of great value and con siderable extent, occupying an area of 10,000,000 English acres. The mineral products of Prussia include coal, iron, lead, zinc, copper, cobalt, antimony, manganese, arsenic, sulphur, alum, nickel, black-lead, baryta, gypsum, slate, lime, freestone, salt, amber, agate, jasper, onyx, etc. All metals, salt, precious stones, and amber belong to the crown. The latter substance is found almost exclusively along the Prussian coast from Dantzic to Memel, where it is fished, dredged for, or dug up near the shore. Prussia has upward of 100 mineral springs, of which the most noted and efficient are the sulphur baths of Aix-la-Chapelle and Ems, the iron springs of Schwalbach, Wilhelmsbad, Dri burg. and the hot and saline baths of Reinerz, Flinsberg, Freienwalde, Lauch stedt, Wiesbaden, Schlangenbad, and Selters.
East Prussia is noted for its royal studs, and the excellent breed of horses which it now raises, and of which large numbers are annually exported. Westphalia enjoys a special reputation for the excellence of its hams and pork, Pomerania for its smoked geese, and Brandenburg and Hanover for honey and wax.