TARN, a department io the south of Franco, is bounded N. by that of Avsyron, E. by that of Il6rault, S. by that of Aude, and by Haute-Garonne and Tarn-et-Garonne. The extreme length from north-west to south-east is 65 miles; the breadth is 46 miles. The area is 2218 square miles. The population in 1851 amounted to 363,073, giving nearly 164 inhabitants to a square mile.
The department is very mountainous in the south-east part, where it comprehends a portion of the Cdvennes. A range of hills branching off from this chain, and running nearly parallel to it, crosses the north-west part of the department, skirting the valley of the Tarn; and there are some other ranges of less elevation and importance. The eastern aide of the department is chiefly occupied by the granitic or other primary, or by the earlier secondary formations. West of this district the tertiary formations prevail. In the north and south of the department the secondary formations crop out in a few places from beneath the tertiary rocks. The mineral products are coal, iron, lead, copper, marble, gypsum, porcelain, and potters'-clay.
The department belongs entirely to the basin of the Garonne. The TARN flows westward to Allay and then south-west to the junction of the Agent, shortly after which it quits the department to enter that of Haute-Garonne. Just above Alby the Tarn has n fall, or rather a series of falls, over the steep face of a limestone rock ; this fall is called Saut-du-Tarn. The tributaries of the Tarn which belong to this department are the Aveyron, the Tescou, and the Agent. None of them, except the Aveyron, is navigable.
There are in the department, 5 imperial, 28 departmental, and 25 communal roads.
About one-half of the surface is under the plough. The soil, except in the mountainous parts, is generally fertile ; but agriculture is in a backward state. The produce in wheat, barley, oats, rye, maize, and buckwheat, leaves a surplus for exportation. Pulse, flax, hemp, aniseed, coriander, woad, and saffrou are grown. The meadow and grass lands may bo estimated at about 100,000 acres, and the heaths, commons, and other open pastures nt 150,000 acres. The valleys and the slopes of the hills afford good pasturage, and the breeding of cattle is one of the principal sources of the wealth of the department. Sheep and pigs are numerous, and the veal is in high repute. The vineyards occupy nearly 80,000 acres; the cultivation of the vine is very carefully and skilfully managed, but none of tho wines are of first-rate eminence. The woodlands occupy 200,000 acres; the oak, the beech, the ash, the maple, the chestnut, the walnut, the mulberry, and the wild cherry-tree are common.
Bees are numerous, and silk-worms are bred. The wild boar, the roebuck, the wolf, the fox, the badger, the polecat, and the hedgehog are found ; and small game is tolerably abundant.
The department is divided into fonr arrondissements, which, with their population and subdivisions, are as follows :— 1. In tho first arrondissement are—Arsit, the capital of the department, which is described iu a separate article; Pamrclonne.
N. of Albi, on the Vinur, population 2025 ; and Rtalmont, a well-built town, 10 miles S. from Albi, with about 3000 inhabitants in the commune.
2. In the second arrondissement are—Casrnss ; Brassie, on the Agent, population 2055; Angles, 14 miles E. from Castres, population 2785 ; La-Brugi&e, on the Taur6, population 3656 in the commune; La-Caune, population 3965 in tho commune ; Vabres, on the Gijou, population 2529; Dourgne, 2250 inhabitants ; Lautree, N.W. of Castres, population 3467; Mazamet, a considerable town, with a population of about 9700 in the commune, engaged largely in the manufacture of woollen goods; Montredon, 16 miles N.N.E. from Castres, population 5213 ' • Murat, 2008 inhabitants; and Roquecourbe, population 2053, engaged in the manufacture of hosiery and woollen cloth.
3. In the third arrondissement the chief town is Gaillac, n largo ill-built place with a college, tribunal of first instance, and 8152 inhabitants in the commune. It is situated on the right bank of the Tarn. It is an old town without any striking publio buildings; there are an hospital and a small theatre. East of the town is a suburb, well laid out and pleasantly situated. There are brandy-distilleries mid cooperages, and one or two tan-yards, dye-houses, and yards for building boats and other river-craft. Trade is carried on in corn, wine, and vegetables. Cordes, a mediaeval town, built on a conical hill, 13 miles N. from Galilee, has 2779 inhabitants. L' ilc-d' Alby, ou the right bank of the Tarn, is a small town, with a place or square regularly laid out and adorned with a fountain. Considerable trade is carried on in corn and wine. Population of the commune 4951. Rat eat ens, in a fertile plain on tho right bank of the Tarn, is an ill laid-out and ill-built town, 11 miles S.W. from ()Milne, and has 5825 inhabitants, who manufacture blankets, and trade in corn, wine, and fruits. Casteinau-de-Montmiraii, a considerable market-town, situated in a district ferias in corn and fruit, has and 3086 inhabitants.
4. In tha fourth arrondissement the chief town, Lamar, is situated on the left bank of the Agout (which is here spanned by a noble arch), and has a tribunal of first instance, a college, a public) library, and 7111 inhabitants. who manufacture silks, serge, hosiery, leather, and cotton-yarn. Grua/het, prettily situated on the Dadon, 10 miles E. from Lavaur, has 5197 inhabitants in the commune. Pay/auras', on a hill 14 miles S.E. from Lavaur, has silk-mills and 6095 inhabitants in the commune, who trade In horses and mules.
The department forms the diocese of the Archbishop of It is included is the 4urisdiction of the Imperial Court and within the limits of the UntversitrAcademy of Toulouse ; and in the 12th Military Division, of which Toulouse Is head-quarters. Tarn returns three members to the Legislative Body of the French empire.