FRANCE. 269 



PHYSICAL FEATURES OF FEANCE BY DISTRICTS. 



Description of Northeastern and Eastern France.* The northeastern 

 and eastern regions are generally mountainous, covered with wood arid 

 pasture land. Unproductive land 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 triassic and permian in the Vosges, the porpby- 

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

 that part of Alsace \hat was left to France. 



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

 mean summer temperature is Gl, that of winter 32 ; the rainfall 

 amounts to 26.22 inches per annum. The rainy days average 137 iti the 

 year, and frost 70. 



The prevailing winds blow from the northeast and southwest. 



Description of Northern France.} The northern region is the 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 iwrthera region, except a few that require a. 

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

 to be found in spine parts of the region. 



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

 tertiary. The 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 110. Southwest 

 and northeast winds are prevalent. 



Description of Western Francc.$ 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 Francc.~The central region contains two dif- 

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

 France. 



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



tThe breeds of cattlo raised in Northern Franco are tho Normandy and the Flemish. 



{The breeds of cattle raised in Western France are the Breton, the Choletais or 

 Parthonan, and the Manceau. 



$ The breeds of cattlo raised in Central France are the Limousine, the Salors, ana 

 the Aabrac. 



