672 
WILTSHIRE. 
gular flat stones. This loam differs much in quality, accor¬ 
ding to its comparative distance from the rock, and to the 
absence or presence of an intervening layer of cold blue 
clay; which, particularly when situated near the surface, ren¬ 
ders the soil much less fertile than when it lies upon the pure 
warm stone, as is the case with all the land extending from 
Chippenham southward through Melksham and Trowbridge, 
except where the veins of gravel above mentioned interrupt 
the course of the rock. In that event, however, the soil is 
not deteriorated; but, on the contrary, is much improved. 
Of the sand veins in this district, one runs from Rodburn, 
by Seagry, Draycot, and Sutton-Benger, to Langley-Burrel, 
near Chippenham; and another from Charlcot, through 
Bremhill, to Branham. Detached masses of the same soil 
are likewise seen at Rowde and Seend ; and there is a third 
very narrow stripe of it stretching also from Charlcot to¬ 
wards Swindon. Another soil in North Wiltshire, which 
seems to demand particular notice, is that extending over the 
greater part of Brandon Forest: it is a cold iron clay of the 
very worst quality ; so that the ground here was never so 
well applied as when in its original state of woodland. The 
climate of this county is not characterised by any very pe¬ 
culiar quality, except that the air in South Wiltshire, as on 
all open downs, is generally cold and sharp. Hence that 
district, though highly favourable to the health both of men 
and beasts, is not very congenial to agricultural purposes. 
In North Wiltshire the climate is much milder than in the 
south parts; but is nevertheless likewise cold; at least win¬ 
ter lingers here longer than might be supposed; a consequence 
most probably of the chilly retentive nature of the under soil 
throughout the greater part of it. 
With regard to agriculture, the southern district may almost 
be regarded as one vast sheep farm. Fallowing is in very 
general use; and the chief manure is the produce of the 
sheep-fold. The most general crops on the high white lands 
are wheat and barley, and on the grounds, in the vallies, 
green crops for the winter maintenance of the sheep and cat¬ 
tle. Potatoes are likewise planted in considerable quantities 
on the sandy veins which run through the county in this di¬ 
vision. On the meadow lands, irrigation is practised perhaps 
more extensively here than in any county of England, and 
with signal advantages. Indeed, water meadows are indis¬ 
pensable appendages to a South Wiltshire farm ; as without 
them it would be almost impossible to pursue the present 
system of sheep breeding, which is certainly more profitable 
to the farmer, to his landlord, and to the country at large, 
than any other mode of agriculture that could be substituted 
in its stead. The distinguishing feature of the agriculture of 
North Wiltshire is the pasturage or grazing system. Great 
numbers of cows are therefore kept in that district, and a 
considerable part of them are likewise reared in it. The 
cheese of North Wiltshire has long been deservedly famed; 
though for some time after it became the staple commodity 
here, it was sold in the London market as the manufacture of 
Gloucestershire. Now, however, much of it is well known 
under the appellation of the “ North Wiltshire,” and is very 
generally esteemed superior to the cheese of the adjoining 
county, being equally rich as the best sort of the vale of Ber¬ 
keley, and free from that degree of pungency, or sharpness, 
which is so offensive to some palates. In all things relative 
to the dairy, indeed, the inhabitants of this district probably 
excel those of any part of England, and evince that the qua¬ 
lity of its produce depends fully as much on proper manage¬ 
ment as on any peculiarity of situation, soil, or climature; 
as it is well known that few tracts of country vary more, 
in these circumstances, than the different portions of North 
Wdishire ; and yet the cheese is almost equally good 
throughout its whole extent. But though the principal part 
of the pasture lands in this district is devoted to the purposes 
of the dairy, a considerable portion of them is also appro¬ 
priated to grazing cattle for sale. Pigs are also reared in vast 
numbers in different parts of the county, and particularly 
constitute essential appendages to the dairy farms of its nor¬ 
thern division. Many of these animals are sold alive to the 
butchers, for the supply of the neighbouring towns with 
pork ; but the far greater proportion of them are killed by 
the farmers themselves, and cured as bacon. The last article 
of Wiltshire produce is no less celebrated than its cheese, at 
least when the pig has been principally bred on the whey 
and offal of the dairy; and has received a mixture of barley- 
meal as fatting food. 
Chalk undoubtedly forms the chief part of the substruc¬ 
ture of all that extensive assemblage of hills which constitute 
the Downs. On the western side of the county, bordering 
on Somersetshire, are many freestone quarries, where vast 
quantities of fine stone are obtained. The quarries at Box, 
near Bath, are as famous as any in the vicinity of that city. 
The principal rivers in Wiltshire are the Thames, the Upper 
and Lower Avon, the Bourn, the Wily, the Nadder, and the 
Kennet. The canals which intersect the county of Wilts are 
the Thames and Severn canal. The Kennet and Avon canal, 
intended to connect the navigation of these two rivers. 
The manufactures of Wiltshire are various, and of great 
extent. Salisbury is noted for its flannels and fancy wool¬ 
lens; and, besides, carries on a considerable manufactory of 
cutlery and steel goods, which are probably superior in work¬ 
manship to any in the kingdom. 
Wiltshire abounds in the most curious and interesting re¬ 
mains of antiquity. Of these the most remarkable are the 
stupendous monuments at Avebury and Stonehenge, both of 
which are commonly regarded as Druidical temples. Next 
to these immense temples, because resembling them in rela¬ 
tive magnitude, though totally dissimilar in.kind, the Wans- 
dyke may properly claim attention. Of nearly equal an¬ 
tiquity to the monuments already named, are the artificial 
hillocks, or mounds of earth, called Barrows or Tumuli, which 
abound in this county. There are three Roman stations 
mentioned as being situated in this county, besides various 
Roman roads, and numerous encampments, and other in¬ 
trenched earthen works. 
Wiltshire is comprehended in the western circuit, and sends 
thirty-four members to parliament, viz.: two knights of the 
shire, two citizens for Salisbury, and two burgesses for each 
of the following boroughs : Chippenham, Caine, Cricklade, 
Devizes, Heytesbury, Hindon, Downton, Great Bed win, 
Marlborough, Malmesbury, Ludgershall, Westbury, Wilton, 
Wooton-Basset, and Old Sarum, Wiltshire is divided into 
28 hundreds, viz.: Alderbury, Amesbury, Bradford, Branch 
and Dole, Caine, Cawden, Chalk, Chippenham, Damerham 
North and South, Downton, Dunworth, Elstob and Everley, 
Frustfield, Heytesbury, Highworth, Kingsbridge, Kinward- 
stone, Malmesbury, Mere, Melksham, Pottern and Canning, 
Ramsbury, Selkley, Swanborough, Underditch, Warminster, 
Westbury, and Whorlesdown. The county contains one 
city, Salisbury; 15 boroughs, and 8 other market towns, viz.: 
Amesbury, Bradford, Highworth, Market Lavington, Mere, 
Swindon, Trowbridge, and Warminster; the whole contain¬ 
ing 304 parishes, 2946 houses, inhabited by 185,107 per¬ 
sons, viz.: 87,388 males, and 97,727 females, of whom 
39,422 were returned as being employed in trade, handicrafts, 
and manufactures, and 53,517 in agriculture. 
WILTZ, a town of the Netherlands, in the duchy of 
Luxemburg; 12 miles east of Bastogne. Population 2000. 
WI'LY, adj. Cunning; sly; full of stratagem; fraudu¬ 
lent ; insidious; subtle; mischievously artful. 
In the wily snake 
Whatever slights, none would suspicions mark 
As from his wit, and native subtilty 
Proceeding. Milton. 
WILY, a parish of England, in Wiltshire; 7 miles east- 
north-east of Hindon. 
W1MB1SH, a parish of England, in Essex ; 4 miles east- 
south-east of Saffron Walden. Population 769. 
WI'MBLE, adj. Active; nimble; shifting to and fro. 
He was so wimble and so wight. 
From bough to bough he leaped light. 
And oft the pumies latched. 
Spensei-. 
WI'MBLE, 
