The district around Paris forms the ,centre of the above departments. There the average return is Brittany has in several parts good pasturages, and a soil adapted to the culture of wheat. Many other parts, however, consist of unproductive heaths. The general backwardness and poverty of the pro vince are but too strikingly exemplified by the fol lowing return: Here also are extensive Landes, or heath. Vines are partially cultivated, but the general produce consists of wheat, oats, barley. The pastures are extensive, though less rich than in Normandy.
Orne, 98. 7d. Loiret, 8s. Od. Maine et Loire, 9s. 6d. Indre et Loire, 7s. 2d. Sarthe, 95. 5d.
Of this great tract parts are level, and parts are mountainous. The climate, though in general steady, is very different in its degree of warmth, according to the elevation of the ground. Hence a consider able discrepancy in the relative fitness for pasture, for corn culture, or for vineyards. Unluckily the water communication is very limited, there being hardly any canals, and the rivers being too near their source to be navigable.
The six following departments, similar to the above in latitude, and not materially different in climate, are of very inferior productiveness ; in some parts, from the mountainous nature of their surface ; in others, on account of extensive heaths, muirs, marsh es, and tracts of sand. The objects of culture con tinue to be wheat, oats, and rye : vines and maize are raised in the warmest exposures.
Lorraine is a mountainous country, containing ex tensive tracts of sheep pasture. Its chief agricultu ral products are oats and wheat.
Vosges, - 6s. 3d.
This extensive province, and the departments to the south and south-west, are, in general, mountain ous, cold, considering their latitude, and thinly peo pled. The chief product of the high grounds is rye. The best departments are those of the Loire, - 8s. 4d. I Ardeche, - 6s. fid.
The following, situated to the south and west of the above, are all poor and thinly peopled: Cants!, - 5s. 2d. I Correze, - Is. 3d.
Here we attain a more genial climate, and a coun try, in general, well adapted to the growth of the vine. But a great part of this tract (Dauphiny and Upper Languedoc) is mountainous ; and the export of wine is consequently attended with much more difficulty, than along the banks of the Garonne. Wheat, maize, and silk, are the other principal products.
Of the following ten departments, some are in debted for the amount of their return to the extent of their vintage ; others to their productiveness in wheat or maize. In pasture or in cattle these de partments are far from abundant.
Tarn et Garonne, 13s. Od. Haute Garonne, 10s. 2d. Lot et Garonne, 11s. 7d. Charente, - 8s. lid.
It remains that we notice a , few departments so particularly circumstanced, as not to fall under any of the preceding heads.
This country, so peculiar in its surface, and not likely to recover for ages the devastations of civil war, is naturally fertile. its products are wheat, oats, and, in the warmer situations, maize.
Three-fourths of this department consist of sandy downs; the remainder produces maize, wheat, and vines ; but the average annual produce is only 2s. Id. per acre.
Here the degree of fertility becomes less and less, the more we approach to the elevated line that se parates France from Spain. This rugged region con tains great tracts of pasture. The corn raised is maize, wheat, oats, or barley, according to the alti- • tude and temperature of the district.
Lastly comes the still more lofty barrier of France to the southeast, the products of which are a little wheat in the vallies ; and, in the higher grounds, pasture, with corn of the lighter species.
We refer our farther remarks on this valuation to the section on AGRICULTURE.