GERS. In this department of France, wheat, maize, peas, beans, oats, and rye are grown in quantity more than sufficient for the consumption. Marble, building-stone, plaster of-Paris, marl, potters' clay, and a fusible spar used in glass and china works are found. Some mineral springs, but no metals, are found in the department. Of manufacturing industry there is little. Coarse woollens, bricks, glass, pottery, and other articles of common necessity are made for home use. The quantity of leather tanned is in excess of the consumption, and some of it is exported. The other exports are brandy, wine, corn, flour, wool, poultry, and cattle. The quantity of wino produced in this department yearly is about 25 millions of gallons, about one-fourth of which is used for home consumption, and the greater part of the remainder is distilled into brandy, known by the name of Armagnac, from the former name of the district. In
quantity of alcohol, the Armagnac brandies bear to the Cognac the ratio of about 8 to 0• Until lately) all brandies paid in France the same duty, whence came the general preference for Cognac, as it contained a greater quantity of alcohoL But for mildness and delicacy of flavour, and for a peculiarly agreeable aroma, both of which qualities improve with age, the Armagnac is a very superior spirit ; and it has this advantage over Cognac, that it comes from the still at a strength ready for con sumption, whereas Cognac requires reduction of strength, which process, it need not be said, endangers, and may mar, the peculiar excel lencies of that spirit. The best qualities of ' Armagnac are distilled from two varieties of white grape, called piguepoul and clairct, in the cantons of Montreal, Eauze, Cazaubon, Man ciet, and Nogaro.