The area of the department comprehends in round numbers about 1,800,000 acre*, of whloh about 1,150,000 acres are under the plough. More oorn is produced than suffices for the consumption of the Inha bitants. The produce In wheat is below the average of the French departments; but In other kinds of grain, oats, rye, media, and especially in barley, the department far exceeds the average. Other are—hemp, truffles, pulse, and The grass s amount to nearly 80,000 the commons and other open pastures to 45,000 sores. Horned eattle, sheep, and horses are kept, but in no great numbers. Wine Is the staple produce of the depart ment. The vineyards comprehend above 00,000 acres, yielding about 19,000,000 gallons of wine annually, of which two-thirds are exported. The wines are known ad Lower Burgundy wines.' Some of them are In high repute. The orchards and gardens occupy nearly 15,000 acres, and the woodlands above 360,000 acres. The exportation of timber and firewood, and the manufacture and exportation of charcoal, are important branches of industry. The department has some important Ironworks and glasshouses. In the manufactures of the department are comprised also coarse woollens, blankets, serges, casks, leather, conserve of grapes, tilts, pottery, &e.
The department is divided into five arrondiasetnents, which, with their subdivisions and populatioo, are as follows 1. Of the first arrondissement, and of the whole department, the chief town is AVIZIRE. Ventaanton, on the right bank of the Cure, has • population of 2616, who carry on a considerable trade In wood and wine. The loose timber and firewood floated down from the Moron Hills are collected at Vermanton, and formed Into trains or rafts, which descend by the Yonne and the Seine to Paris. Chablis, 12 milt E. from Auxerre, on the left bank of the Serein, has a popu lation of about 2600, who trade In the excellent white wine produced In the vineyards of the canton : there are seven fairs in the year. At Se-Fkareasia, an ill laid out but on the whole a handsome town, prettily 'It- ated on the Canal-de-Bourgogne, at the junction of the Armance and the Annancson, and on the Paris-Lyon railway, are several tan yards; trade is carried on in corn, hemp, firewood, and charcoal : there are seven yearly fairs. The town stands on a hill ; the fine lofty gothic church, built in 1376, has some stained-glass windows of great beauty, and some handsome sculptures. From the four principal gates of the town the four leading streets run to a handsome central square, in the middle of which is a public fountain of gothic design. The Canal-de-Bourgogne is carried over the Armance, near the town, by a beautiful aqueduct bridge. The town is on an ancient site. A strong castle which stood on the site now partly occupied by the parish church, is connected with the history of Queen Brunehaut, who took refuge here in e.n. 597 from the pursuit of her grandson, Theodebert IL, king of Austrasia. Pepin demolished the fortress as soon as he mounted the throne in 752. The Normans were defeated near St.-Florentin in 8S8 by Richard, duke of Bourgogoe. The town capitulated to the Count of Champagne in 936. On the banks of the Cure, near the south-eastern border of this arrondissement, are the extensive grottoes of ARCM.
2. In the second arroudissement the chief town, Avallon, ou the right bank of the Cousin, a feeder of the Aire, has a college and 5740 inhabitants in the commune. The town is regularly built, with clean wide streets, and has some handsome public buildings. Coarse woollen stuffs, woollen-yarn, staves, paper, and casks are the chief industrial products. Vtzday, an old and ill-built town, anciently fortified, stands on a hill not far from the left bank of the Cure, and is sur rounded by vineyards. The church of V6zelay, which is classed among
the historical monuments of France, and has been recently restored, consists of two parts : the first part, into which the three outer doors open, is 80 feet long, and is called the Catechumen's church; the second part, with which the first part communicates by three other doors, is called the Oreat church, and is 213 feet long. The choir of the church is very fine; the lofty roof, 75 feet high, is supported by 10 beautiful columns. The nave and choir are surrounded by aisles. The three portals of the facade are adorned with sculptures; those over the central door represent the apostles. VOzelay is rich in histo rical recollections. At a council held here in 1145 the aocond crusade was preached by St. Bernard, and Louis V1L of France and many of his nobles took the cross. In the third crusade, Philippe Auguste of France, and Richard Cosur-de-Lion of England, united their forces at Wade'', to the number of 100,000 warriors. It is now a small place with about 1200 inhabitants.
3. In the third arrondissement the chief town, loigny, stands on the Paris-Lyan railway, and is built on the slope of a hill above the right bank of the Yonne, over which there is a handsome stone bridge. Along the river on each side of the bridge extends a broad and ele vated quay, fronting which is a handsome cavalry barrack. The town is surrounded by au ancient wall, and is entered by six gates; the streets are very steep, narrow, and winding, and are lined for the most part with wretched houses, among which are mingled a few of better construction. In the upper part of the town is a fine château, the windows and terraces of which command a beautiful prospect. Near it is the church, the fine vaulted roof of which, although mutilated, is worthy of notice. The town has two hospitals, a college, a theatre, and 6056 inhabitants, who trade in oak-bark, wood, charcoal, casks, hoop, wino, brandy, and vinegar; there are brandy distilleries, tan-yards, and tile-yards; whiting is made. St.-Julien, a small place on the left bank of the Youne, 10 miles by railway from Joigny, gives name to a favourite French wine. Villeneuve-le-Roy, or rillencare-sur- Yonne, on the right bank of the Yonne (over which there is an old stone bridge), is the first railway station between Sens and Joigny : population about 4500. The principal street of the town is straight and handsome, with a gate and an avenue of trees at each end ; the church is near the centre of the mein street, and has an elegant front, with a handsome door on each side. Coarse woollen cloth and leather, and conserve of grapes are the chief industrial pro ducts ; trade is carried on iu wine, wood, and charcoal, Brienon, or Briinon-l'Archeregue, is a well laid out, well-built, handsome town, situated on the Canal-de-Bourgogne, and the right bank of the Armen eon : population, 2650. The manufactures are woollen-yarn, coarse woollen-cloths, and leather. Tnere is also considerable trade in fire wood (which is floated down to Paris), charcoal, corn, and linen. St. Fargeau, prettily situated on the Loing, is an ancient town with about 2400 inhabitants, who manufacture leather, iron, glass, and earthen ware; they also trade in firewood to Paris. The territory and castle of St. Fargeau passed by purchase from the house of Muntfcrrat to Jacque Cosur, on whose spoliation it was sold by Charles VII. to Antoine de Chabannee. They came by marriage into the house of Anjou, and afterwards into that of the Bourbons. Mademoiselle de Moutpeusier, who built the beautiful château still standing, left the estates to her husband, the Duke of Lanzuu, who sold them soon after her death to an ancestor of the present possessor, the Marquis de Boisgelin.