Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 14.djvu/452

  in cargoes and ballast, during the years ending 15th May:—

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 LEITMERITZ (Boh., Litoměřice), an episcopal see and chief of Leitmeritz district, Bohemia, is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, crossed there by an iron bridge 1700 feet in length, and on the Austrian North-Western Railway, about 35 miles north-north-west of Prague, in 50° 33′ N. lat., 14° 10′ E. long. Leitmeritz is the seat of the judicial, fiscal, and military authorities for the district, and has a fine cathedral (founded ) and several other Roman Catholic churches and ecclesiastical establishments, also a training institute for teachers, classical, mercantile, and industrial schools, two hospitals, and an old-fashioned town-hall dating from the. The town is noted for its breweries, producing, according to the latest returns, 1,056,420 gallons of beer annually; it also possesses glass-works, tile-kilns, potteries, and metallic ware factories. The principal agricultural products of the surrounding country, which on account of its fertility has been called the “Bohemian Paradise,” are corn, fruit, hops, and wine. in 1880, 10,854.

1em  LEITRIM, a maritime county of Ireland in the province of Connaught, is bounded on the N.W. by Donegal Bay, N.E. by Fermanagh, E. by Cavan, S.E. by Longford, and S.W. by Roscommon and Sligo. Its shape resembles that of an hour-glass. From about 20 miles at the extremities it narrows in the centre to a breadth of only 7 miles, and its greatest length from south-east to north-west is 52 miles. The total area is 376,212 acres, or about 588 square miles. The northern portion of the county consists of an elevated table-land, of which the highest summits are Lugnaquila 1485 feet; Benbo, 1365; and Lacka, 1315. In the southern part the country is comparatively level, and is generally richly wooded. The extent of coast-line is only about 3 miles. The principal river is the Shannon, which, issuing from Lough Allen, forms the south-western boundary of the county with Roscommon. The Bonnet rises in the north-west and flows to Lough Gill, and the streams of Bundrows and Bunduff separate Leitrim from Donegal and Sligo. Besides Lough Allen, which has an area of 8900 acres, the other principal lakes in the county are Lough Macnean, Lough Scur, Lough Gill, and Lough Melvin. A canal from Carrick-on-Shannon passes through the county to Lough Erne.

Geology and Minerals.—The central part of the county round Lough Allen is included in the Connaught coal-field, which both north and south is bounded by carboniferous limestone interspersed with millstone grit and Yoredale beds. In the southern districts there is a considerable extent of bog resting on marl or blue clay. The coal-fields consist of a series of eminences ranging from 1000 to 1377 feet, the most important beds being those to the west of Lough Allen near the Arigna. Only the lower measures remain, and they contain marine fossils. The coal is bituminous, and is well suited for manufacturing purposes; but it is not extensively wrought. In the Yoredale shales of the Coal-measures clay ironstone of a very rich quality is found, and was formerly smelted at the Arigna iron works on Lough Allen. Lead has been found near Lurganboy, and copper in Benbo mountain. Manganese is obtained in considerable quantities, and also yellow ochre and various kinds of clays and chalks. The most important sulphureous spring is that of Drumsna; and the chalybeate springs of Cavan on the borders of the county, and of Oakfield adjoining the sea-coast, are also much visited.

Climate and Agriculture.—The climate is very moist and unsuitable for grain crops. On the higher districts the soil is stiff and cold, and, though abounding in stones, very retentive of moisture, but in the valleys there are some very fertile districts resting upon limestone. In the higher regions the chief implement of culture is the spade. Lime, marl, and similar manures are abundant, and on the coast seaweed is plentiful. The total number of holdings in 1880 was 14,812, of which only 624 were less than one acre. More than two-thirds of the holdings are included 