BRANDENBURG, AlAactuis.v• or, a country of Germany, bounded on the north by Mecklenburg and Pomerania ; on the cast by Poland ; on the south by Lower Lusatia, and the electorate of Saxony ; and on the west, partly by the duchy of Magdeburg, and partly by the duchy of Lunenburg. This impor tant province, which forms the basis of the posses sions of the lloAe of Brandenburg, is divided into the departments of the Old Mark, the New Mark, the Middle 11Iark, the Ukraine Mark, the For Mark, or the Mark of Priegnitz ; and the lordships of Beeskow and Sarkow. The Old Mark, which is about eleven German miles long by nine in breadth, contains thirteen cities, the chief of which is Stendal, and about 8058 hides of taxable land. The New Mark is a tract of land about forty geographical miles in length, and only ten in breadth. It consists of seven orginal, and four incorporated circles, be sides Custrin the capital ; and has a regency of its own, courts of justice, and other colleges. It con tains thirty-nine cities, and 16,738 hides of taxable land. The Middle Mark, which is the largest of all the departments of Brandenburg, contains about forty eight cities and towns, the principal of which are Berlin, Brandenburg, and Potsdam ; and has about 24,901 hides of taxable land. The Ukraine, or Ucker Mark, about thirteen German miles in length, and eleven in breadth, is divided into the two circles of Uckcr 'Mark and Stoll), and contains fifteen towns, the chief of which is Prenzlo. The hides of land that are taxable are about 6379. The Vol. Mark, or Mark of Pricgnitz, ten and a half German miles in length, and seven and a half in breadth, contains twenty towns, the principal of which is Perlberg, and has 5211 hides of taxable land.
The whole country of Brandenburg is, in its greatest extent, about 200 miles from west to east, and about 110 miles from north to south. The soil, though in general inclining to sand, varies consider ably in quality. Even in the most sandy and barren parts of the country, the industry of the inhabitants has been able to raise considerable crops of rye, bar ley, and oats ; nor is this kind of soil found at all unfavourable to the culture of the vine, and the productions of the garden. Pines, and other re
sinous trees, are likewise planted here, and their growth fully answers the most sanguine expectation. A great proportion of this marquisate, particularly on the banks of the Oder, is extremely fertile ; and the high perfection to which agriculture has been carried, through the judicious exertions of Frederic William, and his successor Frederic II. has produced the most beneficial change on the general appearance If the country. Tracts of land, which formerly were mere sandy deserts, now bear luxuriant crops of wheat, spelt, and barley ; unwholesome marshes have given place to rich and smiling fields ; and places over which extensive but unprofitable forests once threw their dismal shade, are now enlivened by large and handsome villages. Yet agriculture, highly im proved as it is, is by no means the principal object of attention in the Marquisate of Brandenburg. The greater part of its inhabitants depend for subsistence upon the rearing of cattle, particularly of sheep, whose wool, being of a very fine quality, forms the basis of the beautiful woollen manufactures which abound in that country. Their breed of sheep was much improved by the care of Frederic II., who procured a number of rams from England and Spain. Silk-worms are likewise cherished here with such success, as to become daily an object of more attention and importance. Nor among the advan tageous productions of this country must we forget its woods, which not only supply the inhabitants with fuel for domestic use, as well as for their glass and iron furnaces, for charcoal, tar, and wood-ashes, but likewise with large quantities of timber for house and ship-building, a great proportion of which is exported to France, Holland, Hamburgh, and other parts of the continent. Yet notwithstanding this immense consumption of wood of every description, the forests are managed so judiciously as never to be exhausted.