10 Aug., 1918.] Notes on the Vauchtse District 495 



the stronger growth of those which remain. Light dressing with 

 superphosphate also increase the yield and quality of the oil. Higher 

 up the hills among the rocks (see Fiig. 1) cultivation is no longer 

 possible, and the herb grows wild. The price paid for the fresh flowers 

 and stalks (cut at the top of the leaves) was at that time 24s. to 32s; 

 per ton, delivered at the distillery. 



Fig. 1 will give some idea of the rocky hillsides where lavender grows 

 wild. Vaucluse, though little more than a village, has given its name 

 to the department of which Avignon is the capital. It is usually known 

 in the region as Fontaine de Vaucluse, owing to its being situated at. the 

 very source of the small River iSorgues, which, as is not unusual in this 

 part of France, issues from a chasm, or vent, at the base of tertiary, 



Fig. 4. Ruins near Vaucluse known as Chateau de Petrarquc, also shown to 



the right in Fig. 1. 



limestone, cliffs. Fig. 2 shows the chasm during a dry period, when 

 the lessened flow finds its way to the river bed through crevices at a 

 lower level; at seasons of greater flow, the water rises, completely 

 submerging the chasm and overflowing into the main bed of the river, 

 as shown in Fig. 2. 



Vaucluse is celebrated in history for having been for some years the 

 refuge of the celebrated Italian poet Petrarch (1304-74), or Petrarque, 

 as he is known in French. After vainly striving to win the heart of the 

 beautiful Laura de Noves, to whom he dedicated many celebrated odes 

 and sonnets, he retired in despair to Vaucluse, where some of his finest 

 work was written. The lady died of plague in 1348. At every turn 

 the tourist is reminded of Petrarque and Laura; there is even a Cafe 



