Fragonard

Jean Honore, 4 French painter; born in Gra e in October, 1732; died in Paris Aug. 22, 1806. France (anciently Gallia), a maritime country in the W. of Europe, forming one of its most extensive, most populous, and most influential States. General _ Description— France is bounded N. by the North Sea and the Strait of Dover; N. W. by the Kinglish Channel; W. by the Atlantic, more especially that part of it called the Bay of Biscay; S. by Spain and the Mediterranean Sea; E. by Italy, Switzerland, and the German territory of Alsace; N. E. by German Lorraine, Luxemburg, and Belgium. ‘The breadth near the center is 400 miles, and along the parallel of 46° 15’, where it is narrowest, does not exceed 340 miles. The total area of France is 207,054 square miles. On taking a survey of this great country it is impo ible not to be struck with the advantages it derives from its position. It not only forms a_ continuous and compact whole, but while protected by great natura] barriers at most parts where it is connected with the contineny a long line cf coast on the W. and N. W. gives it immediate acce to the great ocean thoroughfare, while on the S. its harbors in the Mediterranean secure to it a large share in the traffic of that important inland sea. Before the Revolution of 1789 France was divided into a governments, or provinces. he number of these general governments has varied at different epochs. Under Francis I., by whom they were instituted. there were nine, Under Louis XIV. the number was fixed at 32, to which a 33d was added by the acquisition of Corsica, under Louis XV. In 1789 it was determined that the whole of France, including the island of Corsica, should be parceled out into departments, and each department subdivided succé ively into arrondi ements, cantons, and communes, an arrangement which was — earried out in 1790. The number of departments was originally 83, but it has been at different times increased and decreased. There are now 87 depart: ments, with a population of over 39,- 250,000. About nine-tenths of the soil of France is productive, and about one half of the whole French territory is under the plow. During the period 1841-1895 the production of cereals in France increased by nearly 70 per cent., while the extent of land under cereals increased by only one-quarter. The cereals forming the great bulk of the cultivated crops are wheat, oats, rye, and barley. The crops next in importance to these are meslin or mixed corn (meteil), potatoes, hemp, rape, maize, buckwheat, flax and beet. This last plant is cultivated extensively in some departments, especially in that of Nord, for the manufacture of sugar. The most valuable crops of which the cultivation on a great scale is not general, but confined to particular districts, are madder, tobacco, saffron, and hops. The cultivation of tobacco is monopolized by the government, and is confined to certain departments. It yields an annual gro revenue to the government of about $75,000,000 to $80,000,000, but from this total there needs to be deducted the expense in eur red in the cultivation and manufacture of the tobacco. The breeding of stock is in France, if not imperfectly understood, very indifferently practised. The races of oxen include a few good breeds, with many more of the most inferior description. The rearing of sheep is more succe ful, and the fleece has in many districts been carefully and skillfully improved, and much wool, scarcely inferior to that of the merino, is raised. The general employment of cattle for agricultural purposes gives little encouragement to the rearing of draft horses; but the warlike propensities of the nation have always created an extensive demand for horses of a description adapted both for heavy and light cavalry. Considerable pains have been taken to improve such breeds by the establishment of government studs, and the rearing of them is extensively and succe fully carried on.