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by a narrow channel about a mile long, over which is
the handsome bridge of Toome, is Lough Beg, or “the
small lake,” containing 3144¾ acres, of which 1624 are in this
county, and 1520¾ in Derry. This lake, which
is generally 15 inches lower than Lough Neagh, contains
four small islands, and its banks are more diversified
and pleasing than those of the larger lake.
The soils are of considerable variety: that of the
plains and valleys is a strong loam upon clay, capable
of being rendered very fertile, and in many parts inter-
spersed with whinstones lying on or near the surface, the
removal of which is necessary preparatory to tillage.
On the rising grounds this kind of soil assumes a dif-
ferent quality, the vegetable mould diminishing in
quantity, and being lighter in texture and colour; and
the substratum deteriorates into a brown or yellow till.
Still nearer the mountains this change becomes more
apparent from the coarse and scanty produce, rocks and
stones in many parts occupying nearly the entire sur-
face, and the soil gradually acquiring a mixture of peat,
and thus forming extensive moors. To the north of the
Lagan, at a short distance from Belfast, commences
a sandy loam which extends, with occasional interrup-
tions, to the Maze-course, and under good management
is very productive: on the shores of Lough Neagh are
likewise some tracts of a similar soil: and small stripes
of sand are found on different parts of the sea shore.
Gravelly soils prevail on the irregularly disposed swells
above mentioned, which are composed of water-worn
stones of various dimensions, with a loamy covering.
There are several detached tracts of soils of various tex-
ture, of a superior quality, resting on a substratum of
limestone; one of the most extensive lies in the parishes
of Maheragall and Soldierstown. Besides the turf, a
prevailing soil upon the mountains is a peculiar loam
without either cohesion or strength, which appears to
be only a rust or oxyde of the softer parts of the iron-
stone, and under tillage yields exceedingly scanty crops
of grain, but an abundance of straw, and tolerably
good crops of potatoes: its herbage forms excellent
pasturage.
The main feature in the tillage system of a great part
of Antrim is the potatoe fallow, to which it owes nearly
as much as Norfolk does to the turnip fallow. The
principal wheat district extends along the shore of Lough
Neagh and the course of the Lagan river, stretching as
far north as Cairdcastle, in approaching which its extent
is greatly reduced by the projection of the mountainous
districts. Much barley of the four-rowed or Bere species
is grown on the dry and gravelly swells; but the cul-
tivation of oats is most extensive, the straw being used
as fodder for cattle, and the meal, together with pota-
toes, the chief food of the great body of the people.
The other crops of common cultivation are potatoes and
flax: turnips have been grown by some agriculturists
since 1774, and the quantity is yearly increasing. In
some districts the grass lands are extensive and pro-
ductive, although a considerable portion formerly em-
ployed as grazing pastures is now under tillage: the
mountains and high lands also are constantly stocked
with either the cattle of the proprietors, or those taken
in from distant owners. Much butter is made through-
out the county, and is packed in firkins containing
from 60 to 80lb., and sold at Belfast, whence a consider-
able quantity is exported. Carrickfergus and Antrim
VOL. L—33
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have long been celebrated for cheese, some of which
rivals in quality that of Cheshire.
The principal manure, besides that of the farm-yard,
is lime, the produce of the county; but the quarries
being situated at its extremities, it requires much labour
and expense to convey it into the interior. Near the
coast, shells and sea-sand are applied; and sea-sand
is also used even where it contains few shells. Great
improvement has of late years been made in the agri-
cultural implements, by introducing the best Scotch and
English modes of construction. The soil being parti-
cularly favourable to the growth of the white thorn, the
numerous hedges planted with it greatly enrich the
appearance of the lower districts: the mountain fences
consist either of loose stones collected from the surface
of the ground, or of drains (called shoughs) with banks
of earth. The breed of cattle has been very much im-
proved within the last few years, particularly in the
more fertile districts; the most esteemed English and
Scottish breeds have been introduced, and by judicious
crosses stock of the most valuable kind are becoming
general. In several parts is a Bengal breed, imported
by Sir Fras. M c Naghten, Bart., from which several
crosses have been tried, but they appear too tender to
endure the cold of winter. Generally, little attention is
paid to the improvement of the breed of sheep, though
on the rich lands of Muckamore and Massareene it has
been very much improved: the old native sheep are
principally found in and near the barony of Carey. A
very hardy and strong, though small, race of horses,
partly bred in the county and partly imported from
Scotland, is employed on the northern and north-eastern
coast, and among the mountains; and in Rathlin island
is a breed similar to these, but still smaller. In other
parts of the county the horses are of a good size and
valuable kinds, but are chiefly introduced by dealers
from other counties. The long-legged flat-sided hogs
formerly reared have been superseded by the best En-
glish breeds: the bacon and pork of more than 100,000
are annually exported from Belfast.
There is but little natural wood in the county, the
greater portion being that which surrounds Shane’s
Castle, and the scattered trees on the steep banks of a
few rivers. Numerous, and in some instances extensive,
plantations have, however, been made in various parts;
and, though there are still many wide naked tracts,
there are others well clothed with wood, especially ad-
joining Lough Neagh. the vicinities of Moneygluss and
Drumraymond, the valleys of the Six-mile-water, Kells-
water, and the Braid, the whole extent from Lisburn to
Carrickfergus, the neighbourhood of Bella hill and
Castle Dobbs, of Lame, Glenarm, Benvarden, O’Hara-
brook, Ballynacre, Leslie hill, and Lisanonre. The
greatest tracts of waste land arc the highest portions of
the mountain range: even the irreclaimable bogs of
these elevated tracts produce a coarse herbage, and
many of the bogs which overspread to a considerable
extent the plains between the mountains and the Bann
are likewise covered with verdure. Towards the south-
ern part of the county most of the bogs have been ex-
hausted. Coal is furnished to the northern and eastern
coasts from the mines of Ballycastle, but the chief sup-
ply is from England, Wales, and Scotland.
The geology of Antrim presents a groat variety of
the most interesting features, and its mineral produc-
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