RHÔNE

RHÔNE, a department of France, next to that of Seine the smallest in the kingdom, bounded on the N. by the department of Saône-et-Loire, E. by those of Ain and Isère, S. and W. by that of Loire; length, from N. to S., 60 miles; greatest breadth, 28; area, 1042 square miles. The western part of the department is occupied by a prolongation northwards of the Cévennes, known by the names of the Lyonnais, Beaujolais, and Charolais heights. This range here forms the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic; for the rivers that descend its eastern slope flow southwards by the Saône and Rhône into the Mediterranean, and those that run down the opposite side swell the volume of water which the Loire pours into the Atlantic. One of the highest summits of this chain, near the middle of the west side of the department, is Tarare, which rises to the height of 4500 feet. The greater part of the chain has a bare, steep, and rugged character, though the mountains of Charolais to the north have more gentle slopes, and are generally well wooded. From the neighbourhood of Beaujeu, in the north of the department, two branches diverge from the principal range,—one towards the N.E., and the other to the S.E., between the valleys of the Azergue and Saône. From the southern part of the chain, another offset, the Mont d'Or, stretches N.E., and divides the Brevanne from the Saône and Rhône. The mountains are for the most part composed of granitic and other primitive rocks; the country further down belongs to the secondary, and that along the rivers to the tertiary formation. Coal and copper are the most valuable minerals of the country; both are worked to some extent. Porphyry, marble, sandstone, gypsum, and potters' clay are also found here. The department is almost entirely watered by the affluents of the Saône and Rhône, which was its eastern border, a very

Rhubarb, small part only lying to the west of the hills. The soil is for the most part not fertile; and so, notwithstanding the excellent cultivation, the produce of grain is not sufficient for home consumption. Potatoes, however, are more extensively produced. The most important of the natural productions of Rhone are its wines, many of which are highly esteemed. The climate is healthy, but from the mountainous nature of the country somewhat colder than other regions in the same latitude. The extent of arable land is estimated at 353,000 acres, of meadows 90,000, and of vineyards 75,000. The forests are of small extent, and afford comparatively little wood. Besides the crops already mentioned, pulse, madder, millet, hemp, and flax are raised. The quantity of wine produced annually is about 17,000,000 gallons. Large numbers of cattle are reared; also goats in the hilly regions, and many silkworms. Rhone contains about 10,000 horses, 71,000 horned cattle, 66,000 sheep, 18,000 goats, and 14,000 pigs. The annual value of the coal worked is about L.8000, of the copper L.10,000, and that of the produce of all the quarries L.20,000. It is for manufactures, however, that the department is chiefly distinguished. Lyons is for silk fabrics the most celebrated city in Europe; satins, velvets, lace, shawls, ribands, bosiers, &c., are also made in great quantities. Muslin, hats, paper, glass, hardware, machinery, and other articles are among the manufactures of the country. There is an active trade in raw and manufactured articles, as well as in wines, coal, timber, &c. Communication is facilitated by the two navigable rivers, by the canal of Givors in the south of the department, and by the railways from Chalons to Lyons, and from Lyons to St Etienne. The department forms the diocese of Lyons, and contains a court of appeal at Lyons and two inferior tribunals, an academy of theology, science, and literature, a secondary school of medicine, a lyceum, normal seminary, college, 10 superior and 663 elementary schools. Its divisions are as follows:—

The capital is Lyons.