DORSETSHIRE, or DORSET, a maritime co. in the s. of England, on the English channel, between Devonshire and Hampshire. Its greatest length is 58 rn. ; greatest 'breadth, 40; average, 21; area, 627,265 acres; a third being arable, a ninth waste, and the rest in pasture. The coast-line is 75 m. long, with some cliffs and headlands. St. Alban's Head is 344 ft. high. Portland isle (q.v.) is connected with the mainland by a remarkable formation known as Chesil bank. The surface is uneven and bleak. Chalk downs run along the s. coast, and through the middle of the county nearly from e. to west. The highest point is Pillesden Pen, 934 feet. The chief rivers are the Stour and the Frome. Geologically, D. consists of strata of plastic clay, chalk, oolite, has, with some weald and greensand. Remains of colossal reptiles have been found at Lyme Regis. The chief mineral productions are the celebrated Purbeck and Portland build ing-stones, coarse marble, and white china and pipe clays. The climate is mild. The chalk hills or clowns are covered witli short, fine pasture, on which countless numbers of South-clown sheep are fed. The soil is chiefly sand, gravel, clay, and chalk. D. is
mainly a pastoral county, producing sheep, cattle, cheese, and butter; but some wheat, barley, hemp, linseed, hops, etc., are raised. Sanfoin is grown on the chalk hills. There are small manufactures of. linen, silk, woolens, flax, hemp, buttons, stockings, and ale and cider. D. is divided into 12 poor-law unions, and about 290 parishes. The chief towns are Dorchester, Brideporf, Poole, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, Shaftes bury, and Wareham. D. sends 10 members to parliament, 3 for the county, and 7 for the above towns. Pop., '71;195,537. The London and Southwestern, and Somerset and Dorset railways run through the chief districts. D. has ancient British and Roman remains, as stone circles, cromlechs, barrows, camps and amphitheater, and 3 Roman stations. There are some remains of 40 abbacies, priories, hospitals, etc. The ruins of Corfe castle, a seat of the Saxon kings of Wessex, are among the grandest in England.