The climate of the department is not uniform. In the Limagne the summer is very hot. and the winter of short duration ; the thermometer reaches 86° Fahr. in the shade in summer, and some times as low as V in winter. On the mountain slopes, above the region of vines, where only oats and hardy grains are grown, the winter and spring are cold; the high mountains, which are adapted solely for summer pasture, have a long winter, the Intense cold lasting from December to the end of February. The western range of mountains is subject to terrible hurricanes. The prevailing winds are the south-west and the north-west.
The principal rivers are the Attizit and its feeders, the Dore and the Sioule, which drain the eastern and north-western districts respectively; the DORDOGNE; and the Ance, a small feeder of the Loire which flows month, draining a small 'strip on the extreme south-east of the department. Highway accommodation is afforded by seven national and departmental roads. In the west of the department there are several small lakes, and also many beautiful waterfalls.
The corn products of the department exceed the consumption; chestnuts, hemp, apples, pears, apricots, and other fruits, are grown in great abundance. About 12,892,000 gallons of wine are made annually, of which a third part goes to the home consumption. The principal forests are in the arrondissements of Thiers and Ambert ; they contain pine, oak, and beech, and afford a con,idcrable quantity of timber and firewood, which are floated to the Allier, and thence conveyed northward along the latter river. Horses are small. Cows are very numerous, a good deal of cheese and butter is made ; and many cattle are fatted. There are immense numbers of sheep, but of Inferior breed. Among the wild animals are boars, roebucks, wolves, foxes, hares, eagles, vultures, &c.
A lead-mine near Pont-Gibaud and one of antimony near Rochefort are worked. The country is rich in minerals. Iron, zinc, copper, alum, and manganese, are found. Coal-mines are worked in tho north west of the department near Montaigut; and also at several points on the left bank of the Allier, by which river the coals are forwarded to Paris and Orleans. Almost all the towns of the department are built of volcanic substances; and for building purposes there are numerous quarries of lava, trachytic rock, basalt, pumice, besides granite, limestone, and bitumen. The lava quarries of Volvic, near Mom, are especially to be noted.
The manufactures of the department, which are unimportant, are noticed under the several towns. The commerce is composed of tho various agricultural products before named, confectionary, hides, paper, hempseed, nut-oil, deal planks, cattle, wool, coal, &c. Above 460 fairs and markets are held chiefly for the sale of stock and farm produce.
The department contains 1,966,621 acres. Of this area 903,276 acres are under plough culture ; 222,726 acres are meadow and grass land ; 72,038 acres are under vines; 208,486 acres are covered with woods and forests; 474,756 acres consist of heath and mountain pasture; 14,646 acres are laid out in orchards, nurseries, and gardens; 15,756 acres are occupied with rivers, waters, irrigating rills, &c. ; and 54,246 acres with roads, streets, and buildings.
The department is divided into 5 arrondissements, which, with their subdivisions and population, are as follows :— 1. The first arrondissement takes its name from its chief town CLERMONT-FERRAND already described, which is also the capital of the whole department. Billom, formerly the capital of the Limagne, is situated on a high hill, 13 miles E.S.E. from Clermont, and has a tribunal of commerce, a college, a clerical seminary, and 3993 inhabit ants, who manufacture linen, pottery, bricks, tiles, and lime ; and trade largely in hemp, wool, corn, cattle, timber, &c. Pont-du-Chateau, 9 miles E. from Clermont, and on the left bank of the Allier, which is here crossed by a basaltic bridge of 8 arches, is built on the slope and crown of a hill, and has 3562 inhabitants. It takes its name from the bridge and a castle near the river. A large portion of the articles exported from the department are sent down the Allier from this place, consisting of wine, hemp, ivory-black, coal, apples, wood, corn, hay, mill-stones, asphalts, &c. the birthplace of Le Sage, 12 miles S.E. from Clermont, has 3185 inhabitants, and is celebrated for the mineral springs near it.
2. The second arrondissement takes its name from Amber!, which is situated at the foot of a ridge of bills in the fertile valley of the Dore, a feeder of the Allier, 35 miles S.E. from Clermont, in 45° 33' 4" N. lat., 3° 44' 35" E. long., 1742 feet above the level of the sea, and has tribunals of first instance and of commerce, a college, and 8044 iuhabitants in the commune. The houses of the town are in general well built ; but the streets are narrow and crooked. The granite church of St-Jean, surmounted by its lofty spire, is the most remark able structure. Woollen cloth, blankets, laces, garters, serge, linen, pins, tape, woollen yarn, and a large quantity of priuting and engraving paper are manufactured. St.- Amend- Roche- Sarine, 6 miles from Ambert, has silver-lead mines, and 2294 inhabitants. St.-Anthlme, a large village 8 miles E. from Ambert, has a population of 3425. Arlene, 10 miles S. from Ambert, prettily situated on the slope of a hill above the Dore, has a mineral spring, and a population of 4390, who manu facture blond lace, linen, and small wares.