The pert of the plain adjacent to Lough Neagh, and to tho river Blackwatcr as far up at Charlemont, is occupied by tertiary forma Mons. probably lacustrine, consisting of beds of white, brown, and i greenh-blue clay, alternating with white- and grayeand. Irregular beds of lignite occur, and this mineral is dug by the inhabitants, when other fuel is scarce, for their dumeatic use. To the north-west of the tertiary beds, the secondary formations, chalk, greeneand, and liar crop out, bring covered in places by manses of tabular trap. These are succeeded by the red-marl or new redeandetone, which on the south-west immediately succeeds the tertiary beds. Between Dun gannon and Stewartstown is a coal-field which, though small, contains more beds of workable coal than any other in Ireland, and affords coal similar to that of Ayrshire. The formations of the limestone group occupy nearly all the remainder of the plain, and extend south westward to the neighbourhood of Clogher, where, contrary to its general character in Ireland, it rises into tolerably lofty mountains. The eastern and southern part of the plain of Omagh, and the exten sion towards Lough Erne, are occupied by the old red-sandstone, which abuts upon and in some places covers the granite, and protruded green stone, which form the mass of the mountains that separate the two plains of Lough Neagh and of Omagh. The rest of the plain of Omagh and the mountains which on other sides environ it consist of mica-slate, covered in extensive tracts by the old red-sandstone, by tho different members of the carboniferous limestone series, or by the millstone-grit. There are some quarries of inferior slate. Freestone and limestone are quarried in various parte of the county ; the lime stone of Cookstown is remarkable for the number and variety of its fossil remains. Traces of lead and iron are also found.
Climate, Soil, and Agricatture.—The climate is healthy, though moist, for much rain falls, and the lowlands are frequently flooded. The soil in the hilly districts and on the mountain slopes is in general sandy or gravelly; in the south and east it is a light fertile loam, and •Jn the centre, much of it is reclaimed moor or bog. Turf is the usual fuel, and is abundant Grain is grown in the more fertile parts, and cattle are reared on the hills. The number of acres under crop in 1853 was 2S2,151, of which 4195 acres grew wheat ; 150,977 acres cats; 2668 acres barley, bere, rye, peas, and beans; 44,840 acres potatoes ; 16,859 acres turnips; 3338 acres other green crops; 24,131 acres flax; and 34,643 acres were in meadow and clover. In 1841 the plantations covered 14,652 acres, yielding oak, ash, elm, beech, fir, mixed timber, and fruit. The holdings in 1852 were 29,150, the stock on which was 22,378 horses, 1414 mules and asses, 148,745 head of cattle, 30,676 sheep, 30,880 pigs, 6187 goats, and 431,794 head of poultry. and Towns.—The county is in the dioceses of Armagh and Derry, with a small part in that of Cloghcr, and contains 46 parishes. It is divided into four baronies :—Clogher ; Dungannon, Upper, Lower, and Middle ; Omagh, East and West ; and Strabane, Upper and Lower. The principal towns are—STRABANE, DUNGANNON, COOKSTOWN, and OMAGH., which, with CASTLEDERO, CLOGIIER, and GORTIN, are noticed under their separate names. The following are some of the smaller towns and more important villages, with the population of each in 1851 :— Arboe, a village about 6 miles N.E. from Stewartstown, hss a church, a Presbyterian meetinghouse, and a Roman Catholic chapel, which has two altars in the open air. Here are the remains of a monastery, said to have been fonnded by St. Columb, and to have received his body : the walls of the church and a cross are yet standing. Augher, a small market- and pont-town, population 614, stands on the Black water, near its head, 2 miles N.E. from Cloghcr, aid, prior to the Union, was a parliamentary and municipal borough. Four fairs are held hero in the course of the year. In the neighbourhood are, Atigher Castle, built in 1613, now converted into a mansion ; the hill of Knockmanly; and Lumford Glen, a most picturesque spot. Augh sacloy, a markets and post-town, on the left bank of the Blaekwater, 20 miles S.E. from Omagh : population, 1704. It contains some good houses, the parish church of Carrenteel, a Roman Catholic chapel, a Presbyterian meeting-house, two Wesleyan chapels, several schools, a dispensary, a loan-fund office, and a convenient market-house. Besides
the weekly market there is a monthly fair for live stock. Bally gawky, a small market- and post-town, about 4 miles N.W. from Augh nacloy : population, 768. It has some well-built houses, a neat parish church, a Presbyterian meeting-house, a dispensary, and some schools. The manufacture of gloves is carried on. There is a considerable Bale of linen. Caledon, a market- and post-town, between Armagh and Anghnacloy, on tho left bank of the Blackwater : population, tap. The town Is extremely neat and well built. There are a hand some church, a Roman Catholio chapel, a Methodist meeting-house, a dispensary, and several schools. Near the town is Caledon House and demesne, the residence of the Earl of Caledon. There is a large flour-mill, and round the town are a number of limestone quarries. Coal Island, a mining village and post-town, 2 miles S. from Stewarts town : population, 627. At this village, and the neighbouring one of /irstray/ass, are the two principal collieries of Tyrone • a canal, 4 miles in length, was cut to the Blackwater to afford facilities for the transport of the coal. There is au iron-work in the village. Dromore, a village and post-town, about 9 miles S.W. from Omagh : population, 581. It has an old church, a Presbyterian meeting-house, a Method ist meeting-house, a Roman Catholio chapel, several schools, and a dispensary. Five fairs are held in the course of the year. Fintona, a market- and post-town, on a feeder of the Drumragh, 9 miles S. by W. from Omagh : population, 1504. Unbleached linen. are woven and sold in considerable quantity in the market, and at the monthly fairs. There are a parish church, a Presbyterian meeting-house, a Methodist meeting-house, a Roman Catholic chapel, a dispensary, and a loan fund office. Five-Nile-Town, a small market- and poet-town, about 6 miles S.W. from Clogher : population 703. It has a chapel of case. A considerable number of the inhabitants are employed in the linen trade. It has eight fairs yearly. Noy, a market- and post-town, is on the banks of the Blackwater, over which is a bridge communicating with the town of Charlernont, in Armagh: population, 833. It con tains the parish church, a Roman Catholio chapel, several Dissenting meeting-houses, and a commodious market-house. Considerable trado is carried on in coal, corn, timber, salt, iron, and slate; the market is well supplied, and there is a monthly fair ior live etock, especially for horses. Netelonatewart, a market- and post-town, is on the bank of the Strule, over which there is a bridge, 10 miles from Omagh, on the mail-road to Londonderry : population, 1402. The houses are neat and well built; and the town contains the parish church of Ardstraw, a Roman Catholio chapel, two Presbyterian and two Methodist meet ing-houses, a dispensary, and the ruins of an ancient castle. Pomeroy, a village and post-town, on the road from Dungannon to Newton atewart, about 8 miles from the former town : population, 505. There are a church, a Presbyterian meeting-house, a Roman Catholic chapel, a school, and a dispensary. Petty sessions are held monthly, and there is a monthly fair. Stcwartstown, a market- and post-town, about 5 miles S.E. from Cookstown : population, 1022. Some linens and mixed fabrics of linen and cotton (called unions) were formerly made, but the manufacture has declined. In the neighbourhood are several limestone quarries. Stewartstown contains a number of well-built houses of stone, slated ; the parish church of Donaglienry, a Roman Catholic chapel, two Presbyterian meeting-houses, a school-house, a dispensary, a loan-fund office, and a market-house. Fairs are held monthly, and petty sessions every fortnight The ruins of an old monastery and of Mountjoy Castle are near the town. Trillick, small post-town, between Omagh and Enniskillen, about 8 miles S.W. from Fintona : population 449. The parish church is about a mile from the town, but there are two meeting-houses, a Roman Catholic chapel, schools, and a dispensary. Fairs are held monthly, and petty sessions every fortnight. Near it are the ruins of Trillick Castle.