BUCKINGHAM, or BUCKS, England, south-midland county, bounded north and north west by Northampton; northeast and east by Bedford and Hertford; southeast by Middle sex; southwest by Berks and west by Oxford. Its length, north to south, is about 45 miles; greatest breadth, east to west, 23 miles; area, 746 square miles. The vale of Aylesbury, stretching through the centre of the county, and celebrated for its fertility, furnishes rich pasturage for vast numbers of cattle and sheep. The total area under all kinds of crops, bare fallow and grass is somewhat more than 400, 000 acres, of which considerably more than half is in permanent pasture. The chief cereal crops are wheat, barley and oats. The county forms a great dairying centre. The breeding and fattening of cattle are largely carried on, Herefords and short-horns being favorite breeds. The heavy arable lands in the northern part of the county are being brought under cultivation by steam plough, and are producing rich crops of beans, wheat, etc. The manufac
tures of Buckinghamshire are unimportant. Among them are straw-plaiting and the making of thread lace, wooden articles, such as beechen chairs, turnery, etc. There are also paper mills, silk-mills and other manufactories. The mineral productions of this county are of no great importance. There is chalk burning and limestone quarrying. The county is watered by the Ouse, the Thame, the Thames, and other streams, and is intersected by the Great Western and Northwestern railroads. Buckingham is nominally the county town, but Aylesbury is the assize town. Buckinghamshire used to contain three parliamentary boroughs, namely, Ayles bury, Buckingham and High or Chipping Wycombe, which now give name to correspond ing parliamentary divisions. The county thus returns three members to the House of Com mons. It gives the title of earl to the family of Hobart Hampden. Pop. 219,551.