Of the coach roads, the most important is the parliamentary road to Shrewsbury and Holyhead, which enters the county between Daventry and Duuchurch, and passes through Coventry and Birming ham. There are two other main lines of road to Birmingham: ono by Buckingham, Banbury, and Warwick, and the other by Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, and Henley-in-Arden. A road from London to Liverpool crosses the northern part of the county, passing through Atheridonel and the principal road between Bristol and the north of England passed through Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield. Ronda lead from Warwick by Southern to Daveutry, and by Kenilworth to Coventry, and there are others of less importance.
The county Is amply furnished with railways. The main line of the London and North-Western railway enters the county hear Rugby, and panes by Rugby and Coventry to Birmingham, a short distance beyond which it quits the county. The Trent Valley branch tuns froni the main line nt Rugby, In a north-westerly direction to Tamworth. Another branch runs from Rugby to Leaminston Priors, 15 miles. From Leamington a branch is carried northward to Coventry, and from Coventry it is continued to the Trent Valley line at Nuneaton. The we at branch of the Midland railway connects Birmingham. with Tam worth, and a branch from it at Whitacre junction joins the main line of the at Hampton. The Alidland South branch runs for a short distance, in the county north front Rugby. Tho Bristol and Birmingham branch of the Midland just enters the county near Birminghoul. The Birmingham and Oxford branch of the Great Western railway enters the county by Faruborough a few miles from Banbury, aud traverses the county in a north-westerly direction past Warwick to Birmingham. The Rugby and Stratford railway runs for a short distance In the county north-east of Rugby.
Climate, Soil, and Agriculture.—This county, being situated nearly in the centre of England, has a comparatively mild and healthy climate. Except In the higher and more exposed Situations, where the soil is cold and heavy, the harvest is as early as In inure southern counties. The soil Yorke extremely, so that two or three different kinds of soil are often found lu a field of no great extent. The red loam, which is found to a considerable extent across the centre of the county, and especially between Warwick and Coventry, and from the borders of Worcestershire to Leicestershire, is mostly of a superior quality; all of it is very fit for white crops, and much of it capable of bearing both beanie and turnips. Where the loam inclines to sand, the sub
soil Lt chiefly limestone, marl, or sandstone; and under the colder and heavier looms the substratum is clay. There is also a fertile clay on limestone. There is a great extent of excellent pastureland in Warwickshire, but there are not many water-meadows. In the neigh bourhood of Warwick, Coventry, and especially Birmingham, much land is laid out in gardens, at a high rent, and well cultivated : pieces of mcadow.land, likewise, for feeding milch cows, are let at very high tents neat these manufacturing towns.
The county of Warwick is extremely well timbered : on every estate of any extent, besides hedgerow timber, there are woods and coppices. At one time the Forest of Arden occupied a large portion of the centre of the county. Several places preserve the name, as Henley-in-Arden, Iltempton-imAraen,&-c.; and although there is no longer a coutinuoua forest in this district, it is still the best-wooded part of the county, affording plenty of timber, consisting of almost all kinds of forest trees, but especially oaks.
There la no breed of cattle peculiar to the county. The dairy Cows are chiefly long-horns, crossed its every possible way : short-horns have been introduced, and are preferred by many, especially for feeding, although the Herefords are in great repute with the graziers ; as well as Scotch, when they can be bought in at a reasonable price. The old Warwidkehire sheep is nearly forgotten, having been super acded by the New Leicester and a cross of the two breeds; for folding the South Downs are preferred.
Divisions, Towns, &c.—Tlio county is divided into four hundreds, each of which contains several divisions. These hundreds and their respective divisions are as follows :—Barlichway, west—divisions, Alcester, Henley, Snittorfield, and Stratford : liemlingford, north Atheratone, Birmingham, Solihull, and Tamworth divisiuus Kiueton, or Kington, south—Brails, Burton Dassett, Kington, aud 'Warwick divisions : Knightlew, east—Kenilworth, Kirby, Rugby, and &Althorn divisions. The borough of Warwick is included in Kiueton hundred ; Birmingham in Hemliugford ; and the city of Coventry, formerly a county in itself, is now included in the hundred of Kuightlow.