WILTSHIRE. There are very few mine ral deposits worked in this county. In respect to commerce, the navigation of the Thames, the Kennet, and the Bristol ANT& does not commence until after those rivers have quitted the county; but the want of river-navigation is partially supplied by canals, of which three lines are connected with this county. These are the Thames and Severn canal, the Kennet and Avon Canal, and the Wilts and Berks Canal. Many of the principal towns are now accommodated with railway facilities.
In an agricultural point of view Wiltshire may be divided into two districts ; a southern district comprehending all the Wiltshire Downs, with their intersecting valleys ; and a northern district. The soil on the downs pro duces excellent short herbage, very well suited for sheep pasture. Tho proportion which has been converted into arable land is comparatively small, and chiefly on the bor ders of the valleys. In the northern district,
where the top soil is thin, it is chiefly cultiva ted as arable land; but where it is deep and rich, there are some of the finest pastures in England, such as those about Chippenham, and thence southward to Melksham and Trowbridge, where the largest oxen may be fatted. This district is essentially a dairy country. The grass land forms the greater portion of the north-west part of Wiltshire, and the cheese made there is justly celebrated ; it is mostly bought up by factors for the supply of London and other large towns.
Wiltshire is one of the most manufacturing Counties in the West of England ; the carpets of Wilton, and the woollen-cloths of Bradford, Trowbridge, &c. have been long celebrated, though they have been eclipsed in late years (in quantity but not in quality) by the pro ductions of the West Riding.