FRANCE. 



605 



strong military works, and its manufactures are considerable. Tiie latter is distinguished for 

 its splendid buildings and its beautiful promenades. 



4. JlgricuUure.. Two-thirds of the population of France are agricultural, and a much 

 greater proportion of the cultivators are proprietors than in most other European coianlries. 

 The agricultural products of the northern part of the country are corn, pulse, and potatoes ; 

 of the southern, corn, grapes, mulberries, and olives. Beside the common grains of Europe, 

 wheat, rye, oats, and barley, maize is also extensively cultivated. The horses and cows are 



Rye. Spring Barley. 



Winter Barley. Common Wheat. Spring Wheat 



fed chiefly on clover, lucern, sain- 

 foin, and other artificial grasses, of 

 which no greater quantity is raised 

 than is absolutely necessary. The 

 rotation of crops is little attended 

 to, and fallows still bold a place in 

 French husbandry, which is there- 

 fore proportionately less productive 

 than the English. The French are, 

 however, the best wine-makers in 

 the world ; the principal varieties 

 of the French wines are those of 

 Champagne and Burgundy ; the Mo- 

 selle and Rhenish wines, so called 

 from the rivers upon whose banks 

 they are produced ; the hermitage of 

 Daupbiny ; and the clarets of the 



Oats. 



Sainfoin. 



neighborhood of Bordeaux. 



Table of Cultivated Land., and JlgricuUural Products. 



Arable land in France, 

 Annual produce of Wheat, 



" " Rye, 



" " Maslin or mixed 



com, 



" " Maize, 



56,810,000 acres. 

 20,800,000 quarters. 

 1 2,700,000 " 



10,400,000 " 

 2.100,000 " 



Annual product of Buckwheat, 

 " " OMs, 



" " Potatoes, 



Land occujiied by vines, 



Produce of vineyards, 



2,000.000 quarters. 

 11,000,000 

 6,900,000 " 

 5,000,000 acres. 

 924,000,000 gallons 



5. Commerce. Much of the foreign commerce of France is transacted by foreign vessels, 

 and the amount of shipping is much less than that of the United States. The annual value of 

 imports is about 100,000,000 dollars, consisting chiefly of raw materials for manufactures, and 

 of natural productions for food ; the value of the exports is a litile less, consisting principally 

 of manufactured articles, wines, brandies, &c. The coasting trade and internal commerce 

 between the different regions of this rich country, are extensive. 



6 Manufactures. The products of French manufacturing industry are exceedingly various 



