THE CENTRAL MASSIF.—The sterility of the soil derived from the Archaean rocks of which the Massif is mainly composed, along with the rigour of the climate, renders this region unsuitable for agricul ture, and arable farming is more restricted than in any other part of France, except the Alpine zone. Wheat and oats are grown in some favoured localities, such as the valley of the Allier, but the characteristic crop is rye, and nearly one-half of the rye fields of France are found on the Central Massif. Pastoral farming is also extensively carried on in the same region, which contains one-fifth of the cattle and sheep of the whole country.
The development of the mineral wealth of the Central Massif has given it a much greater importance than hitherto in the economic life of France. Around it and within it lie a number of coal basins which produce over one-fourth of the total output of the country, the most important fields being situated round St. Etienne in the basin of the Loire, at Creusot, Blanzy, and Epinac, around Morvan, at Commentry in the basin of the Allier, and at Alais in the south-east. The coal from these fields is utilised mainly in the neigh bouring parts of the country. Much of it is produced at considerable cost, and the rates for transport are high. It is cheaper at Marseilles
to buy sea-borne coal from England than land-borne coal from St. Etienne.
Iron ore is also found in this region, especially around Morvan and in Aveyron, but it frequently occurs apart from coal, and the production is less than one-fiftieth that of the whole country. Nevertheless, its existence has facilitated upon the coalfields the development of an important metallurgical industry, much of the ore for which has now to be brought from a distance. Creusot, St. Etienne, and other towns are all engaged in the production of iron and steel, and the best French steel comes from the region under consideration. Creusot is the centre of large ordnance manufactures.
Textile industries are situated in a few more or less scattered localities. St. Etienne manufactures silk goods, mainly ribbons ; and Roanne, in the basin of the Allier, manufactures cotton and woollen goods. Commentry and Montlucon are among other towns carrying on a small textile industry. Limoges is noted for the manufacture of china, Clermont-Ferrand for pneumatic tyres, Thiers for cutlery, and Vichy for mineral waters.