OTHER INDUSTRIES 27 



by frequent fine rains. (3) Girondin climate, characterizing Bordeaux, 

 Agen, Pau, etc., having a mean temperature of 53.6° F., with mild winters 

 and hot summers; the prevailing wind is from the northwest; the average 

 rainfall about 28 inches. (4) Auvergne cKmate, comprising the Ceven- 

 nes, Central Plateau, Clermont, Limoges, and Rodez; mean temperature 

 51.8° F., with cold winters and hot summers. (5) Vosges climate, in- 

 cluding Epinal, Mezieres, and Nancy, having a mean temperature of 

 48.2° F., with long and severe winters and hot and rainy summers. (6) 

 Rhone climate, experienced by Lyons, Chalon, Macon, and Grenoble; 

 mean temperature 5L8° F., with cold and wet winters and hot summers; 

 the prevaihng winds are north and south. (7) Mediterranean chmate, 

 at Valence, Nimes, Nice, and Marseilles; mean temperature 57.5° F., 

 with mild winters and almost rainless summers. 



Agriculture. — Of the 39,000,000 population some 17,000,000 depend 

 upon agriculture for a livelihood, though only about 6,500,000 are engaged 

 in work on the land. The cultivable land occupies some 195,000 square 

 miles, or about 94 per cent of the total area. Of this, 171,000 square 

 miles are cultivated. There are besides 12,300 square miles of unculti- 

 vable area covered by lakes, rivers, towns, etc. ; only 37,672 square miles 

 are in forests (241.2 million acres). While wheat and wine constitute the 

 staples of French agriculture, the distinguishing characteristic is the 

 variety of its products. Cereals occupy about one-third of the cultivated 

 area. For the production of wheat, in which France is self-supporting, 

 French Flanders, the Seine basin, notably Beauce and Brie, and the 

 regions bordering on the lower course of the Loire and the upper course 

 of the Garonne are the chief areas. Rye is grown in the poor agricul- 

 tural territories of the Central Plateau and in the Parisian region. Maize ' 

 covers considerable areas in Landes, Basses-Pyrenees, and other south- 

 western departments. 



Other Industries. — In France, as in other countries, the development 

 of machinery, whether run by steam, water power, or other native forces, 



lowing zones as occurring in France: 



(1) Laurentum, with minimum temperature of — 10°C., where "everywhere orna- 

 mental shrubs with persistent leaves can be cultivated in the gardens." 



(2) Castanetum, with occasional temperatures down to —25° C, where the mari- 

 time pine and chestnut can be grown. 



(3) Carpinetum, with temperature down to —.30° C, where there are drought, hot 

 summers, but dangerous frosts and extremes of cold. This includes most of the rich 

 Normandy forests. 



(4) Mountains, broadly speaking (for the same exposure) for each 3.3 feet of altitude 

 the average temperature diminishes 1.2° C. and the rainfall increases 10 per cent. Ex- 

 ceptions occur, depending on the slope of the mountain and on the latitude. Typical 

 of the mountain climate are abrupt changes in temperature, severe frosts coupled with 

 intense heat (radiations solaires) during the day. 



