On the eastern side of the county, at Old Radnor, and in the neigh bourhood of Preateigne, the strata are more varied and interesting. The trap rocks at Old Radnor have brought to light the rocks both of the upper and lower Silurian system. "There is not," says Sir IL L Murchison, " perhaps in Great Britain a finer mass of altered and crystalline limestone than that exhibited at Nash Scar, the prin cipal cliff of which rises to the height of 200 or 300 feet above the adjoining valley of Kalil and Presteigue." This limestone is well developed at Old Radnor, where also treess of the lower Silurian rocks may be observed. The old red-eandstone occupies • considerable portion of the south-eastern part of the county. The chief mass of trap rocks in Radnorshire is situated near the centre of the county, having a direction from north-west to mouth-east, and extending from Llandegly and LlanbadarnfiesT, to the neighbourhood of Builth. Parallel to the main ridge, on the eastern aide, are a number of smaller elongated mounds of trap running in the same direction, and besides these there are numerous stratified traps, alternating with beds of marine deposit. The mass of Old Radnor Hill ie a dark green stone, but there is a peculiar conglomerate thrown off on the western flanks, having a base of gray and green felspar, incloeing pebbles of quartz. Minute veins of copperore and crystals of copper and iron pyriteiroccur in the altered bedded rocks, as well as nests and coatings of anthracite. There are various proofs that the volcanic rocks pene trated the limestone subsequently to its consolidation.
The medicinal springs of Llandrindod, Llandrgly, Sind Biwa Edw all issue from the altered strata in junction with the trap rocks of the district, and, like the mineral springs in Brecknockshire, are supposed to owe their origin to the decomposition of iron pyrites and other mineral ingredients. There are three springs at Llandrindod, namely chslybeate, and sulphur. The Llandegly and Blaen Edw waters are sulphurous. Llandrindod lies on the Builth and Newtown road, about seven miles from the former town, and is much frequented in the summer months.
Soil and Agriculture--A great portion of the county consists of common bog and moor land, and is therefore comparatively useless for agricultural purposes. It is supposed that only about one-fourth of the inclosed land is under the plough. Inclosures are gradually being made, as well as considerable plantations of larch and fir. The waste lands are still of great value as sheepwalks. Notwithstanding the thin population, the quantity of wheat grown in the county is considerably less than the consumption. The best wheat is grown on the eastern and south-eastern districts. Barley, oats, and potatoes are grown in considerable quantities on nearly all the farms. Flax is grown in small patches fur home use.
The main dependence of the Radnorshire farmer is on the stock reared on the pasture and common land ; the latter support large quantities of sheep, and in the most sheltered parts cattle of all sorts.
The cows are principally of the Herefordshire breed. Numbers of Welsh ponies are also reared on the commons. Salt-butter for wiuter use is an article of export. Sonia cider is made in the districts adjoining Herefordshire.
Dirisions, l'ourna, &c.—Radnorehire is divided into six hundreds, exclusive of the borough of Radnor, and contains 53 parishes and 3 market-towns. The hundreds are Colwyn, south and central ; Kevenlleece, central; Kuighton, north-east ; Painseastle, so uth ; Radnor, east and central ; and Rhayader, west and north. PRESTEIGNE, the county town, KNIGHTON. RADNOR, and RHAYADEB, the ouly market towns, are noticed in separate articles. The only villages of any im portance are given here, with the population of the respective parishes in 1851.
Boughrood, population 314, is pleasantly situated among woods, near the left bank of the Wye, sit the southern extremity of the county, 22 miles S.S.W. from Presteigne. The neighbouring country is hilly. Besides the parish church there is a.Primitive Methodist meeting house. Some remains of Boughrood Castle are still left. Cefsllys, or Kevenlleece, population 386, about 9 miles &E. from Rhayader, situated on a bend of the Ithon, is a contributory borough to New Radnor : the population of the borough in 1851 was 45. Clyro, population 8S3, on the left bank of the Wye, near the junction of the counties of Radnor, Brecknock, and Hereford. There was formerly a monastery at this place; also a castle, of which there are still some remains. The chanoel of the church was rebuilt in 1823. The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, and there are National schools. Disserth, population 564, on the left bank of the 1Vye, has a commodious old church with a lofty turreted tower. Glasbury, population 1375, about 20 miles S.S.W. from Preeteigne, is on the left bank of the Wye, over which there is a high wooden bridge, built in 1800. The church has a tower at the west end. There are National schools and some small charities. Woolstapling is carried on. Westward of the village, itandiug in au extensive park, is Maeelough Castle, the seat of the De Winton family. St. !lemon, population 858, on the Wye, 4 miles N. by E. from Rhsyader, has a neat church, rebuilt in 1823, and chapels for Wesleyan and Calvinistia Methodists and Baptiste. Knucklaa, population of the borough 251 in 1851, is situated near the right bank of the river Teme, 13 miles N. by E. from New Radnor, to which borough it is contributory in returning a member to the Imperial Parliament. Norton, population 294, about 3 miles N. by \V. from Presteigne, is sometimes called by the inhabitants a borough. The church is ancient. A school is supported by Lady Brydges. There are remains of an ancient castle.