The level and more cultivated parts of Glamorganshire are rather destitute of wood ; but its eastern and western extremities are well wooded. The magnificently clothed hills or Margam, Bagland, 13riton Ferry, and the vale of Neath, unite the beauties of cultivation with the luxuriance of forest scenery. The wood, which rises immediately from the church of Margam, covers the breast of a mountain 800 feet in height, and more than a mile in circumference ; the value of the oak timber has been estimated at 60,000/.
The agriculture of this county presents little that is in teresting ; it is behind many other counties in Wales, al though the vale of Glamorgan offers many facilities to the husbandman. It is naturally fertile, and lime is every where to be found in abundance, and with ease. On the mountains, a breed of sheep, somewhat similar to those on the Cotswold hills, is kept. The cattle of this county, which resemble those of Normandy, are in high repute for draught.
But it is its mineral productions, and its manufactures depending upon them, which distinguish and enrich Gla morganshire. It abounds in limestone, iron, and coal. With respect to that most extensive bed of limestone, of which nearly the whole of Glamorganshire forms only a part, it commences with the eastern extremity of the coun ty, and, taking a direction due west, runs in a straight line to Swansea Bay, appearing again in Gowerland, and, having passed under Caermarthen Bay, is seen to occupy the greatest part of the south and west of Pembrokeshire. The neighbourhood of Merthyr Tydvil abounds with excellent coal, iron ore, mill-stones, and limestone rocks. Excellent flag-stone for paving, and a very good kind of slate, are found in this neighbourhood, and, indeed, throughout the mountainous district of Glamorgan. On the left of the road about Pentyrch are very extensive coaleries, and abundance of iron ore. In some respects this county is in teresting to the geologist. On the top of Curly Bryn, one of the highest mountains in South Wales, is a huge crom lech, consisting principally of an immense stone of lapis molaris. The lake of Config is esteemed a singular geo logical curiosity. The water is contained in a depression of an irregular form, in the midst of sands ; and, though lying within a very short distance of the sea at flood tides, inva riably retains its freshness pure and untainted. At a short
distance from Newton Noltage is the well mentioned by Camden, which ebbs and flows reversely with the title of the sea. The only mineral spring in the county of Glamor gan is at Swansea. This spring has an acid, styptic taste, like alum, though the predominant salt in it is the sulphate of iron. It turns blue with vinegar, but will not curdle with milk.
The principal manufactures of iron, copper, &c. are at Swansea, Merthyr Tydvil, and Neath. In 1720, Swansea was noted for the manufacture of straw hats; in 1730, the first copper work was established, on the east side of the river ; since that period they have gradually increased, as well as the iron works, to an extent equalled in few parts of the kingdom. Lead is also smelted here. The copper is brought from Anglesey, Cornwall, and Devon. Merthyr Tydvil was a very inconsiderable village till 1755, when the iron and coal mines in its vicinity first attracted atten tion; and a Mr Bacon obtained the lease of a district abound ing in them, eight miles long and four wide, for 200/. per annum. About 10 years ago, about 190 tons of iron were, on an average, sent weekly, from one person's works only, to Cardiff. The number of smelting houses is sixteen. About the year 1800, an overshot wheel was constructed, upwards of fifty feet in diameter, and six in breadth ; the gudgeons, on which it turns, are supposed to be the largest in the kingdom. The quantity of iron sent from Penydar ran works by the canal, averages annually about 7000 tons ; the Dowlas works produce annually about 5000 tons ; and the Plymouth works about 4000 tons. In the neighbour hood of Neath are very extensive works for the manufac ture of iron and copper. Two immense blast furnaces pro duce 30 tons of pig-iron every week. A copper foundery and manufactory, on a very extensive plan, is carried on near the village of Margam, the works of which consume 70 tons of coal daily. The tin works of Melin Gryffyd, four miles to the north of Cardiff, are, perhaps, the largest in the kingdom ; producing not less than 13,000 boxes of tin plates, each containing 225 plates, in one year.