FEANCE. 269 



PHYSICAL FEATURES OF FRANCE BY DISTRICTS. 



Description of Northeastern and Eastern France.* The northeastern 

 and eastern regions are generally mountainous, covered with wood and 

 pasture land. Unproductive laud is extensive and agriculture less 

 advanced than in most of the other regions. The vineyards are im- 

 portant and produce the celebrated wines of Champagne and Burgundy. 

 Ilye is more important than wheat, and colza and hemp are also largely 

 grown. 



Nearly all the geological formations can be found in this mountainous 

 region, the primary and granitic in the Alps, the Jurassic in the Jura 

 range and in the greater portion of the region, the cretaceous in the 

 Champagne district, the triassie and pcrmian in the Vosges, tho porphy- 

 raccous in the Beaujolais and Morvan provinces, and the alluvium in 

 that part of Alsace that was lel'fc to France. 



The climate is more extreme than in any other part of France ; the 

 mean summer temperature is G4, that of winter 32 ; tho rainfall 

 amounts to 20.22 inches per annum. The rainy days average 137 in the 

 year, and frost 70. 



The prevailing winds blow from the northeast and southwest. 



Description of Northern France.] Tho northern region is tho richest, 

 most fertile, and best cultivated region of France. 



The land, which is nowhere in the region absolutely unproductive, is 

 only broken by low and cultivated hills. The proximity of Paris insures 

 for all the produce of the region a certain and profitable outlet, and 

 there is scarcely a branch of agriculture that is not followed. 



There, too, landed property has better resisted the disintegration prev- 

 alent in France, and permitted of the valuable use of agricultural ma- 

 chines. In brief, every produce of the French soil is extensively and 

 profitably grown in the northern region, except a few that require a 

 warmer climate the olive, orange, antl grape although some vines are 

 to be found in some parts of the region. 



It belongs entirely to the mioceue formation, Jurassic, calcareous, and 

 tertiary. Tho climate is tempered by the sea breezes and is equally 

 free from intense cold and heat. The mean summer temperature is 

 63 ; and that of winter 40. The mild and damp winters are favorable 

 to pastures, which acquire particular qualities from the beneficent sea 

 air. 



The rainfall averages 22 inches and the rainy days 140. Southwest 

 and northeast winds are prevalent. 



Description of Western France.^. The western region, much alike to 

 the northern region in its principal features, is far from equaling it in 

 riches and advanced agriculture. 



Brittany, which forms tho principal part of the region, is of primary 

 and granitic formation. It is covered with heaths and landes, and can- 

 not raise successfully anything but buckwheat. 



The other parts of the region have greater analogy with the northern 

 region, and in a general way the description given of the latter applies 

 also to the former. 



Description of Central France.^ The central region contains two dif- 

 ferent parts, the plains in the north, and the central table-land in 

 France. 



* The breeds raised in this district arc tho Charolais, the Comtoiso, and the Morvan. 



tThe breeds of cattle raised in Northern France are tho Normandy and the Flemish. 



$ The breeds of cattle raised in Western France are the Breton, the Cholotuis or 

 Parthenan, and tho Manceau. 



$ The breeds of cattle raised in Central France are the Limousine, the Salers, and 

 the Aubrac. 



