WIRTEMBERG or WURTEMBERG, a small kingdom of Europe in Germany, is bounded by Baden on the west and north, by Bavaria on the east and south, and a part of its southern frontier by the Lake of Constance. It contains about 7573 square miles, or 4,846,720 English statute acres. It is divided into the following circles: ous and hilly. The range called the Alp or Alb in the northeast, and the Black Forest, which is a continuation of the Swiss Alps, rise to the height of about 2700 feet. The northeastern mountains are an insulated range of rocky hills, destitute of wood, and, to a certain degree, of verdure, and traverse the kingdom from Rotweil. The rest of the kingdom is covered with hills of moderate height, between which are extensive and beautiful valleys which enjoy a mild climate, and are highly fertile. The finest of these valleys are the valley of the Neckar, with its branches, and that of the Danube from Ulm to Tutlingen.
The principal rivers are the Danube and Neckar, the Enz, Muhr, the Rocker, the Iaxt, the Tauber, the Rems, the Erms, the Zobcr, the Shussen and the Argen; the two last of which flow into the Lake of Constance. The principal lakes are the Feder lake, about three miles long and three broad, the Lake of Lauren, and that of Pfaffen. The rivers and lakes contain salmon, trout, perch, carp, pike. eels, borvel and shad.
Wirtemberg contains of Meadow land 640,000 acres.
Arable land 1,620,000 Woods and forests . 1,520,000 Vineyards 61,000 The rest being waste, arc occupied with lakes, rivers, towns, &c. Agriculture is in a more advanced state than in other parts of Germany. Turnips, mangel-wurzel, and potatoes are exten sively cultivated. Rape and poppies are raised for the manufacture of oil; and wheat, rye, oats, hemp and flax, are produced in abundance. The grain raised annually is about 23,000,000 bushels, and the export of corn exceeds the import by 80,000 quarters. The vineyards produce much wine, the best of which is the Neckar, but it is not of a good quality. The annual value is estimated at 1;400,000. Fruit of various kinds abound, and in some places there are complete woods of apple and pear trees. The Black Forest yields abundance of pine and fir wood, of which a great deal is exported.
The cattle, and particularly the cows, are of a good breed, and the butter and cheese are excellent. The breed of sheep and horses has been much im proved. In 1820 the live stock was thus enume rated: The mineral productions are iron, silver, copper, coal, and porcelain clay. The iron mines have been worked at Neuhausen, Fluorn, Neuenherg, Aalen, and Wasseraffingen. There are some springs at Hall, Sultz, Ofl'enau, and 'Veisbach, from which 8000 tons of culinary salt are made annually, The general aspect of the kingdom is mountain and a new spring at Kochendorf promises to yield a still more abundant supply.
The principal manufactures are those of linen and woollen fabrics. In the Black Forest every female spins in winter, and every peasant is a weaver. Damask table linen is made at Munsengen, and sail cloth is likewise made in the kingdom. A kind of fine lace is also made by the women. Cotton spinning and weaving are partially intro duced in some places. The other articles of manufacture are glass, leather, paper, snuff, beer, hardware, cutlery, oil, pitch, tar and potearth. In the village of Mossingen, there are 280 stills for distilling brandy and whiskey. Wooden clocks are manufactured in great quantities.
\Virtemberg exports annually 18,000 oxen, 12,000 cows, 75,000 sheep, and 550,000 lbs. of wool, besides the articles of its manufactures above mentioned. Its imports are silk, cotton wool, East and West India productions, flax, hemp, hides and salt.
The revenue of the kingdom is about 11,000,000 guilders. The National Debt in 18 71.vas 30,000,000 guilders, or about X3,000,000. The expenditure in 1817 was under 10,000,000 guilders, of which 1.000,000 was appropriated to the king for his civil list, and 650,000 for the royal family.
The army is composed of 12,284 infantry, 3614 cavalry, and 2452 artillery.
Wirtemberg was made a kingdom in 1806. The government is a hereditary limited monarchy. There are two legislative chambers, the one con taining the nobility and the protestant and Catholic prelates, and the other the deputies from the cities. All Christian sects enjoy equal political rights. See J. D. Memminger Neueste Runde von den Koni greiehe TT iertemburg.