Herefordshire

Herefordshire, an inland county of England, having Shropshire on the N., Monmouth and Gloucester on the S., Worcester on the E., and Radnor and Brecknock on the W. It is 38 miles long from S.E. to N.W., and has an extreme breadth of 32 miles, and contains nearly 5,333,000 acres, of which 500,000 are arable, meadow or pasture. The soil is generally good, though in some places the pasture is poor. Much wheat is produced, and other crops are barley, oats, beans, peas, hops, and turnips. The surface slopes S. towards the Severn, into which flows the Wye with its tributaries the Lugg, Arrow, Frome, and others. The apple is cultivated generally throughout the county, and the cider is abundant and good. Horses are largely reared for riding, coaching, and agricultural work, and the cattle make good beef, though yielding scanty milk. The sheep are generally Cotswold and a cross with the Leicestershire breed. Feirms are generally large, and oak is abundant and much exported. There are medicinal springs from the Malvern Hills, and petrifying springs in parts. The county returns a member of Parliament for each of its two divisions.