The climate varies with the elevation of the soil. The district of Le-Bocage in the north and north-east of the department, is the most elevated stud the healthiest. This district, which extends into the adjacent departments, derives its name from the abundance of wood found in it, rather however in the form of copse or thicket, than of forest, though intermingled with the underwood are forest-trees, as oak, ash; chestnut, and elm. The soil of this part is chiefly a stiff loam, sometimes sandy, and at other times clayey. The valleys which intersect this hilly country are watered by numerous brooks, and afford good meadow-land; the hills are cultivated, except on the north side of the higher hills, where little grows except heath and furze. The Bocage covers about two-fifths of the whole department, Tho temperature is colder than in the rest of the department ; but the air is purer : the summer is usually very dry, the winter wet. The inhabitants are the most robnat in the department, and are remark able for the simplicity of their manner; and their attachment to old opinions and habits.
The district which extends between the Bocage and the southern boundary of the department is called the Plain, and has an extent of nearly 300 square miles : it is the meet fertile district in the depart ment, and has a clayey soil resting upon llmestoue.
The rest of the department consists of the Marais, or the Marshes, the most extensive district, but the most unhealthy, the air being loaded with foga rising from the ditches and drains. The changer of temperature on the coast are sudden.
Ahoye three-fifths of the area of the department are under the plough, but agriculture is in a very backward state. Wheat, barley, oats, rye, millet, buckwheat, hemp, and flax are grown. The grass lands measure about 270,000 scree, and the heaths and open pastures amount to above 160,000 acres; the7 are chiefly In the Bocage and the Morals. The breed of horses is small but vigorous ; a great number of mules and asses are bred. Horned cattle and sheep are of inferior breeds. The vineyards occupy above 40,000 acres, yielding annually about 6,000,000 gallons of bad white wine. The woodlands occupy about 70,000 acres, and the orchards about 20,000 acres; the apple, the cherry, and the chestnut are the principal fruits.
The department is divided into three arrondissements, es follows:— 1. In the first arrondissement the chief town, Prapoleon-Ville, originally Roche-sur-Yon (which name It bore till 1808, when the population was only about 800), after the restoration Bourbon Vendee, after the revolution of 1848 Napoleon- Vendte, and since again Nopoleoss-rille, is the capital of the department. It is situated in 46' 40' 17' N. 1st, 1' 25' 23' W. long., 235 miles S.W. from Paris, on a hill above the little river Von, and has a college, a tribunal of first instance, and 6186 inhabitants. Napoleon I. chose the village and castle of Rochsesnr-Yon to be the site of the capital of the depart ment., and authorised the erection of the necessary public buildings. In the centre of the town, and on the snmmit of the hill, is the Place Royale, a spacious rectangle bordered with rows of trees, and sur rounded by good buildings; into this square the principal streets, which are straight, wide, clean, and well built, open. Many of the
streets are still only traced out. The chief buildings area handsome parish chnreb ; the residence of the mayor, a beautiful Grecian struc ture, adorned with a peristyle ; a market-house, which is a square building, surrounded by a peristyle supported on several steps; a theatre; the prefect's residence; the great barrack ; and the hospitaL 2. Of the second arrondissement the chief town is Pontenai-le Celeste, situated on the slope of a hill above the left bank of the Vendee, in a plain between the Bocage and the Fens, has a tribunal of first Instance, a college, and 7348 inhabitants. The town has a very pretty appearance, and is approached by four fine roads, leading from Nantes, Rochelle, Saumur, and Niort. The streets in the older parts of the town are narrow and winding. The principal buildings are the beautiful gothic church of Notre-Dame, with a spire 266 feet high; the college, which is surrounded by walls and gardens, and has accommodation for 400 boarders; the hospital, the new prison, the theatre, and the pretty fountain, whence the town has its name, near the ruins of the old castle of the counts of Poitiers. The trade of Fontenot In corn, timber, seeds, oak-staves, coals, charcoal, provisions, and Bordeaux wines, for which Fontenai is an entrepet, is greatly facilitated by the navigation of the Vendde. The manufactures are linen and coarse woollen-stuffs. The Republicans were defeated here by the Vendeans under Larochejaequelin, Leecure, and Bonchemps, May 24, 1793. Luton, a gloomy town, situated ou the eastern edge of the Fens, and at the extremity of the Luton Canal (which is navigable for vessels of 60 tons) gives title to a bishop, and has a diocesan seminary and 4300 Inhabitants.
3. The third arrondissement has for its chief town Les-Sables, or Les-Sables d'Oloane, which is situated ou a peninsula on the coast, and consists of several long, clean, and well-paved streets. The southern part of the town stands on a slight eminence; the suburb of La Chanme, built on a level rock, is separated from the town by a canal. The harbour admits vessels of 200 tons. The town is protected In one part by the salt-marshes, In another by a wall, and towards the port and the sea by a fort and batteries. There are two churches, a nunnery, a school of navigation, a lighthouse, two almshouses, or hospitals, and a prison. The townsmen are engaged in ship-building, rope-making, and In the fishery, particularly of the pilchard. Corn, salt, and wine are exported. Noirmoutier, a small sea-port on the isle of Noirmoutler, with about 2500 inhabitants, Is well-built and well paved : the road affords good anchorage for vessels of 200 tons, and there is a tide harbour with 12 feet of water when the tide is up.
The department constitutes the diocese of Lucca, the bishop of which is a suffragan of the archbishop of Bordeaux : it is included in the jurisdiction of the 'Ugh Court and within the limits of the University -Academy of Poitiers. It is comprehended in the 15th Military Division, the head-quarters of which aro at Nantes ; and sends three members to the Legislative Body of the French empire.