22 AGRICULTURE. 



which most unites the great desiderata of an ex- 

 tended and profitable agriculture, fertility of soil, 

 mildness of climate, a dense population, an en- 

 lightened government, and facility of exportation.* 

 Within her ancient limits, she boasts a surface of 

 more than one hundred and fifteen millions of ar- 

 pens, and a population of twenty-two millions of 

 inhabitants.! The following tables will show, in a 

 compressed form, the nature of her soil and the 

 uses to which it is put :J 



GEOLOGICAL TABLE. 



Arpens or Acres. 



Alluvial and other rich soil . . . 26,159,340 



Chalky do 13,268.911 



Gravelly do 3,261,826 



Stony do 18,128,660 



Sandy do 7,553,956 



Stratum of clay, with a light covering of 



sand, called landes .... 21,879,120 



Granitic and other mountains . . . 25,261,946 



AGRICULTURAL TABLE. 



Arable land 63,600,000 



Vineyards ...... 4,764,960 



Woods 15,931,850 



Natural meadows 5,464 800 



Artificial meadows 6,332, i 00 



Lakes, marshes, wastes .... 19,400,049 



Total 115,493,759 



From the average of a number of statistical tables 



* The natural advantages of France as to soil, climate, &c. 

 are doubtless great ; and her agriculture, and the condition of 

 her rural population, have been much improved since the revo- 

 lution ; still, as a whole, her soil is by no means as well culti- 

 vated as that of Belgium, Tuscany, England, Scotland, and, 

 probably, some parts of Germany. 



t The population of France, by the last enumeration, was 

 about 32,000,000. 



J See Geographique, &c., vol. vi., art. France, p. 13, and 

 Young's Tour through France. 



