LOIRE AND CHER, a department of France, formed out of the ancient divisions of Blesois and Cologne, in the Orléannois. It extends in north latitude from 47. 18. to 48. 4. and in east longitude from 0. 28. to 1. 57. It contains 2647 square miles, or 671,500 hectares, of which 320,000 are arable land, 70,000 are woods, 20,000 are vineyards, and the rest pastures, meadows, rivers, roads, and the sites of towns and villages. It is bounded on the north by the department of the Eure-Loire, on the north-east by Loiret, on the south-east by the Cher, on the south by the Indre, on the south-west by the Indre-Loire, and on the north-east by the Sarthe. It is divided into three arrondissements, twenty-four cantons, and 309 communes, and contains a population of 220,000 persons, amongst whom it is said there are scarcely 20,000 who can read and write. The department is a level district, with a few inconsiderable elevations, which are covered with vines. The southern part or arrondissement of Romorantin is a miserable district, filled with heaths and swamps, between which only a few spots of cultivable land scattered over it, in which are small and wretched villages. The northern part contains a larger proportion of cultivated soil, but is filled with sandy heaths, sometimes mixed with clay or chalk, but often-
er with pebbles. There are numerous small streams, all of which empty themselves into the two rivers which give their name to the department. No part of France contains so many small lakes and swamps. The agriculture is badly conducted. In many of the cantons no wheat is grown, and in some the only corn is buckwheat, which, with rye from the vicinity, forms the chief bread of the inhabitants. Along the banks of the rivers there are some meadows, which afford pasture for cows; and some good butter and cheese is produced. A number of horses, of a small but active race, are bred on the heathy lands. The land is divided into small portions, and cultivated for the most part by small and poor proprietors. The wine made in the department is chiefly sent to Orleans or Paris, but a great part of it is converted into brandy. The only product of the mines is iron; but flints for muskets are abundantly found, and the army is chiefly supplied from hence. The only manufacturing industry is the spinning of flax, which is carried on in every family. The department elects two deputies to the legislative chamber. The capital is the city of Blois.