Rriml Economy of France since 1780. 
547 
Limousin. Half its surface, and that the most prosperous, con- 
sists of mountains ; the rest is a barren plain without any larg<! 
valleys, such as those of the Loire, the Rhone, and the Dordogne, 
which in every other division of the country distribute that 
wealth, cheer, and prosperity, which seems to be borne along^ 
with the broad stream that flows in their bosoms. 
Tlie plain of Sologne contains 1,000,000 acres, and only 
80,000 inhabitants, or only 8 per 100 acres. The Emperor of 
the French has taken in hand a large tract of the most desolate 
portion of that desert, and is improving it by means of the most 
costly appliances. A few private individuals have also attempted 
to reclaim other patches of it, with indifferent success. 
Near Sologne is the old province of Berri, which has preserved 
all its ancient rural organization. Nearly all the farms are held 
under the system of metayage ; but, as the land is in the hands 
of very large proprietors, who have lately devoted their intelligence 
and ample means to the progress of agriculture, they are accom- 
plishing wonders, and making a radical change in the status of 
that province. To name such men as the Marquis of Vogiie, of 
Chelmsford celebrity, the Duke of Mortemart, the Prince of 
Chalais, the Duke of Maille, the Prince d'Arembert, M. Lupin, 
the Trappist Fathers, &c., is sufficient to give an idea of the 
progress that is going on. " Owing to their united efforts," says 
M. de Lavergne, " the province of Berri will certainly one day 
rival our best provinces. It has doubled its produce within the 
last twenty-five years, and it may double it again within a shorter 
period." It is in this district that the most important and costly 
introduction of the SouthdoAvn breed of sheep has been made, 
and v/here it has best succeeded. 
Such are the principal features of this admirable book. How- 
ever tempted we may be to follow our author in the interesting 
details of each proA'ince, to give an outline of his graphic 
descriptions, to borrow fi-om his inexhaustible lore of historical, 
legendary, and economical illustrations, we feel that we have 
already exceeded all reasonable limits, and must now bring our 
review to its conclusion. M. de Lavergne seems to have framed 
his work after the model of Arthur Young's celebrated Travels. 
The faithful descriptions of that eminent agriculturist form, 
indeed, a most admirable test for estimating the present state of 
French agriculture. The book, therefore, may be looked upon 
as the continuation, or rather the complement, of Arthur Young's 
Travels, and is the more welcome to the statistical student as it is 
the only one of the kind that has been published since the times 
of our English agricultural tourist. We trust we have said 
enough of its singular merits to induce all those who can read 
