542 
Rural Ecmomy of France since 1789. 
prosperity. The North- Western Division itself, the privileged 
region, does not move at a quicker rate. There prosperity has 
reached a point whose every step in advance becomes more diffi- 
cult to achieve ; whereas the Western District, less rich by two- 
thirds, is full of youthful energy and hopes of future prosperity." 
The main feature of this part of France is undoubtedly the 
valley of the majestic river Loire, of which M. de Lavergne 
gives the following tableau : — "The Valley of the Loire is justly 
reputed as one of the finest countries in Europe. From 
Orleans to the sea, a distance of nearly three hundred miles, 
stretches a long plain of alluvial soil, reclaimed by human in- 
dustry from the stream, which often essays to regain its ascend- 
ency. These marvellously fertile lands, like others of this 
class, are in the clutches of petty owners. Divided and sub- 
divided as they are, they sell as high as at the rate of 160/. 
per acre, and have the appearance of garden-culture. A mul- 
titude of small farmers, who find a ready market for their pro- 
duce in the towns that crown its banks, inhabit a crowd of 
hamlets and villages built on the slopes of the hills or on the 
very baitks of the river, under the protection of ancient cause- 
ways, which may be traced back to the time of Charlemagne. 
Generally, the Loire flows lazily over its sandy bed, or forms 
new channels without detriment to its embankments ; but occa- 
sionally the stream, swollen to a mighty flood, sweeps over or 
undermines these massive barriers and overwhelms both crops 
and dwellings. But the soil is so productive, the climate so 
genial, the peasantry so pertinacious, and a market so sure, that 
scarcely have the waters disappeared when the victims of the 
flood again set to work, and in a short time no trace of the 
devastation remains." After describing the 250,000 aci'es of 
vineyard, similarly subdivided, which cover the chalky slopes on 
either bank, M. de Lavergne continues : " Add to this multi- 
tude of vine-dressers and market-gardeners who throng its banks 
the movement on the river itself, the numerous barges propelled 
by oars or sails which traverse its surface — Gaze in every direc- 
tion upon those long vistas of the broadest valley in France, with 
its beautiful sheet of water, its groups of islands, its masses of 
verdant trees Cast over this scene, so graceful and so 
grand, so lively and so calm, a hazy sky, a serene light, a balmy 
air, and you will understand why this country, so well calculated 
for the habitation of man, has received the appropriate name of 
the Garden of France. Five hundred thousand souls live there 
upon an extent of only 500,000 acres, and are pretty equally 
divided between town and country." 
Another feature of singular interest and beauty may be added 
tf) this description, in those graceful chateaux which arise at 
