South of the Lake of Neufchatel tho Jura Mountains do not rise abruptly from the plain, but a lower range, a kind of terrace of small width, lies between them, which ie called La-COte, and in its southern parts is covered with vineyards, between Geneva and Merges. Farther north are plantations of mulberry-trees for the use of silk-worms. There are also numerous orchards, and in some parts the slopes are wooded. In the mountain region itself there are two large and several smaller valleys. The two larger valleys are those of Joux and of Velorbe, and they may be considered as one valley 30 miles long and about 2 miles wide. This valley is divided into two valleys by the summit called Dent-de-Vaulion, which rises to 4831 feet above the sea-level. The valley of Joux, or that south of this summit, is 3375 feet above the level of the sea It is drained by the river Orbe, which in approaching the Dent-de-Vaulion enters the Lake of Jouz, which is 5 miles long and more than a mile wide. After leaving this lake the river forma a small lake, that of Brenet, on flowing from which it is precipitated into an opening at the foot of the Dent-de Vaulion, from which it issues as a considerable stream on the north side of the mountain. Here begins the Valorbe, which extends to the town of Orbe, where the river leaves tho mountains, at the foot of which it flows through the plain to its mouth, which is at the southern extremity of the Lake of Neufchatel. In the valley of Joux, which is more than 700 feet higher than Valorbe, only barley and oats are grown, and there are no trees, except a forest of fir-trees, in the southern portion of the valley, which belongs to France. The greater part of the valley is used as pasture and meadow ground. The Valorbe contains fine forestetrees, and is generally well cultivated, except on the slopes of the surrounding mountains, which products grass. All kinds of frnit-trees abound.
That portion of the region of the Jura which extends from the south of the Lake of Neufchatel to the northern extremity of the Lake of Menne, consista of numerous valleys divided from one another by low ridges. The waters from several of them have appa rently no outlet. The whole region is destitute of trees, with the ex ception of the lower portion of the eastern slope, where there are exten sive vineyards and orchards. Mulberry-trees are grown to feed silk worm.. Here also, and in the valleys which open towards the lakes, every kind of grain is grown, and agriculture is carried to a high degree of perfection. But the mountain region itself, with its valleys and ridges, is in its natural state only covered with grass, and though the soil is dry, the pastures are rich and maintain large herds of cattle. The inhabitants of this district are noted for their great manufacturing industry. ['Seurat:1Tel, ; Bray.) In spite of many disadvantages, among which is the long winter that lasts seven months, these districts are among the most populous in Europe, though every article of food is very dear, owing to the difficulty of transportiog it from the lower country. Within the mountain region nothing is cultivated except
some barley and oats.
North of the lake of Menne the steep declivity of the region of the Jura Mountains continues along the beaks of the river Aar, and in the whole of its long extent from the Lake of Ilienne to the confluence of the Aar with the Ithine, a distance of 60 miles, it is only once interrupted by a valley. Though less elevated than farther to the south, it rises more than 1000 feet above its base, and has some sum mits, of which the Weisseesteiu, north-west of Solothurn (4616 feet), is perhaps the highest. As far as this summit the valleys extend longitudinally in the direction of the whole system, and resemble In some degree those of the central district, but they are partly covered with wood. North of the Weissenstein however the slope of the country is to the north, and the numerous valleys with which it is furrowed are transverse valleys. These valleys sink much lower, and the ridges which separate them from one another are wider and have more the form of ranges than in the central district. They have the advantage of a more fruitful soil, and a much more moderate climate. A loge portion of this country is well adapted for the rearing of cattle and for dairies ; the lower declivities and the level grounds In the valleys and depressions produce all kinds of grain. The orchards also are very extensive. The valleys possess a considerable degree of fertility. Many of the mountains are covered with wood.
Climala—The climate of Switzerland presents great differences, which are the effect of the greater or less elevation above the sea-leveL Some regions of considerable extent, as about Monte Roes and the Finsteraarhorn, rise above the line of perpetual eongelation, and some of the inhabited valleys to 4000 feet above the level of the sea. About one-fourth of the area of Switzerland is useless to man by its too great elevation and the rigour of its climate.
The climate of the lower district, is more temperate than that of most countries of Germany, and the valleys south of the Alps approach very near in climate to that of Lombardy. The following table shows the mean temperature of the four seasons at Geneva, Zurich, Bern, and the Hospice of St. Gothard, as compared to that of Milan :— The mean temperature of London for the winter is 3812°, for the spring for the rummer 6114', for the autumn 5019° ; and for the year Hence it appears that all these places, except Milan, have a lower annual temperature than London, and for Bern this difference amounts to more than five degrees. The mean annual temperature of the Hospice on the St. Gothard is lower than that of the North Cape in Norway by nearly two degrees, but the summer is nearly four degrees warmer : the other seasons are colder by some degrees than at the North Cape.