GENE'VA. The southwesternmost canton of Switzerland, bounded by the Canton of Vaud and Lake Geneva on the north, and by France on the east, south, and west (Map: Switzerland, A 2). Area, 108 square miles. The ,surface consists of low hills, watered chiefly by the Rhone. The soil is not naturally fruitful, but the careful industry of the inhabitants has ren dered over 80 per cent. of the total area of the canton productive. Grain, wine, fruits, and vegetables are produced in considerable quanti ties, and domestic animals are raised. Indus trially Geneva is one of the leading cantons of Switzerland, and is famous for its watch-manu facturing industry, which was introduced from France as early as 1587. The manufacture of music-boxes and jewelry was begun later, and at present the products of the canton include machines, mathematical instruments, and elec tric apparatus. The silk industry, formerly of great importance, is now in a state of decline.
The commerce is greatly facilitated by the prox imity to France, and the products of Geneva, especially, watches, are exported to all parts of the world.
The Constitution of the canton, first adopted in 1847, and repeatedly modified, provides for a true democratic form of government. The legis lative power is vested in the Grosser Rat, con sisting of 100 elected members; the executive power, in a Council of State of 7 elected mem bers. The referendum was introduced in 1880. Besides a number of higher and inferior courts, Geneva has also arbitration courts for the settle ment of industrial disputes. Population, in 1888, 105,509; in 1900, 131,674. The inhabitants are divided about equally between Roman Catho lics and Protestants, about 30 per cent. being for eigners and nearly 90 per cent. speaking French. Capital, Geneva (q.v.).