WICKLOW, a maritime county of Ireland. It is bounded by the sea on the east, by Dublin county on the north, by Kildare, Dublin and Carlow on the west, and by 1Vexford on the south. It is about 40 English miles long and 33 broad, and contains 781 square miles, or about 500,000 English acres. It contains 58 parishes, of which 49 are in the bish oprick of Dublin, 6 in the diocese of Loughlin, and 3 in that of Ferns. The county is divided into 6 baronies and half baronies.
A great part of %Vicklow is occupied with rocky mountains and bogs. In the N. and W. the moun tains are bold and rugged, but in the east they are separated by fine wooded and romantic glens, such as those of Dargle, the Downs, the vale of Immalee, and Glendalloch. The central mountains consist of granite; and argillaceous schistus composes the lower hills. On the north is the remarkable chasm in a ridge of granite called the Scalp.
The minerals of Wicklow are gold, lead, and copper. Native gold has been found on the N.E. side of the mountains, Croughan Kenshela, in a stream which falls into the Ovoco. In 1796 L10,000 worth was found in pieces, one of which weighed 9, another 18, and a third 27 ounces. Government then explored the mines, but no veins were found, and the works were abandoned. Lead has been wrought at Glenmaher and Glendalloch, at the latter of which places there were in 1809 three smelting houses, and about 18000 cwt. of bar iron were make weekly. Copper has been wrought to a considerable extent at Cronebane and Bally murtagh. The works at Cronebane produced in 1809, 3000 tons of ore at a cost of X8000. The works are now discontinued. Oxide of tin was found in the same stream in which gold occurred.
Wicklow has no river navigable within its limits. The Liffey rises in the N.W. of the county. The Ovoco runs into the sea at Arklow, the Fartrey does the same at Wicklow, and the Slaney rises in the S.W. of the county. Five of the streams pro duce fine waterfalls, the principal of which is at Powerscourt, 360 feet high. The chief lakes are Lough Bray, Lough Tay, Lough Dan, and the loughs of the seven churches.
The climate of Wicklow is remarkably fine, espe cially on the east coast. The myrtle grows in such profusion as to be used for stable brooms, and grapes ripen out of doors. The principal crops
are wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes. Summer fallow being little known, the wheat follows the potatoe crops, and sometimes it is taken after white crops or upon the lea. The barley comes after potatoes or turnips. The crops are uncommonly abundant, though the soil is of a light quality. Dung, marl, and limestone gravel, are the chief manure. Scotch agricultural implements are now in general use.
Most of the improved breeds of cattle have been introduced. The dairies, which are numerous, are employed chiefly in feeding veal for the Dublin market. In the north early lambs are fattened to a considerable extent. The mountains of Wicklow afford good pasturage for sheep. The number of breeding ewes is about 20,000. The South Down are common, and many of the native flocks have been crossed with them. Merinos have also been introduced.
The principal manufactures of 'Wicklow are woollen and cotton goods. Besides the coarse woollens for common use, flannel is manufactured to a great extent. From 5000 to 7000 pieces were sold annually before 1808 at the flannel sale at Rathdrum. The cotton manufacture was then car ried on with much spirit at Stratford-upon-Slaney. The linen manufacture has always been inconside rable.
The principal towns, &c. are Wicklow, the county town, Baltinglas, Blessington, and Carys fort, which were formerly burghs. The villages are Rathdrum, Bray, Arklow, Stratford-upon Slaney. Wicklow is boldly situated on the decli vity of a lofty mountain. The church, which has a high square tower, is pleasantly situated on a lofty eminence. The jail, the court-house, and the market•house, are good modern edifices; and about a mile to the S.E. of the town are two light-houses. In 1816 Arklow employed from 1.00 to 156 boats in the herring-fishery, which has sometimes produced about L25,000 annually.
The population in 1790 was 58,000, and in /821, 115,162, the Catholics being to the Protestants as 10 to 1. See Eraser's General View of the .1gri culture of the County of Wicklow, 1801, Radcliffe's Report of the .Rgriculture and Live Stock of the County of Wicklow, 1812, and Mr. Griffith's Report of Dr. .Pellows, on the Mineralogy of the neighbour hood of Dublin.