THE BORDEAUX WINE DISTRICT. 101 



Yillofranche cle Lauregais. — The valley is exclusively composed 

 of farming lands. The hills on cither side are planted with vines. 



Toulouse. — We here caught the first sight of the great Canal 

 de Midi. It did quite a good business formerly ; but, since the 

 inauguration of the railroad, its importance has much diminished. 

 The vine is predominant, 



Orisales, — The country is rolling; produces some wine and 

 much corn. 



Montlariier. — Vines on one side of the road, and grain, mixed 

 with vines, on. the other. 



Montauban. — A large Protestant town, and famous in the his- 

 tory of the Huguenots. Vines are planted on each side of the 

 road. 



Casiel-Sarrasin. — The vines are here planted in rows three feet 

 apart, and these separated by a distance of forty to sixty feet, 

 which is occupied by grain. 



Marsac. — Vines are on either side of the track. The Eiver 

 Tarn flows along the valley. 



Malouse. — The plum or prune cultivation begins to increase. 

 On the hills, which are of moderate height, vines are planted. I 

 saw many patches of cane, which is used for the drying of the 

 plums. 



Valence. — The country is cultivated with vines, grain, and 

 fruit-trees. 



St. Nicolas. — The cultivation is the same as above. The rail- 

 road runs for a length of time on the banks of the canal. 



Agen. — A large place, famous for its dried plums, of which 

 there are sometimes only thirty -six to a pound. After passing 

 Agen night came on, and I could make no farther observations. 

 We arrived at Bordeaux at twelve o'clock, well worn out with 

 our day's journey. 



September 15. — As it was Sunday, all that could be done was 

 to walk around the city and write correspondence. Bordeaux is 

 a very fine city. It possesses large shady walks, promenades, 

 and squares. It has a good safe harbor in the Eiver Garonne. 

 Its botanic gardens, with their beautiful ponds, in which hund- 

 reds of gold-fish swim, and upon which swans extend their white 

 and graceful forms, contribute in no small measure to the beauty 

 of the city and the pleasure of the promenading community. 

 Many ships from our own country sweep the harbor with their 

 airy forms. High above all the others is unfurled to the winds 



