SÈVRES

SÈVRES, DEUX, a department of France, bounded on the N. by that of Maine-et-Loire, E. by that of Vienne, S. by those of Charente and Charente-Inférieure, and W. by that of Vendée. Its length, from N. to S., is about 79 miles; greatest breadth, 41; area, 2341 square miles. It is traversed by a chain of low hills, called the Hills of Gâtine, which extends from the mountains of Auvergne N.W. to the mouth of the Loire, entering the department from Vienne at the S.E., and leaving it at the N.W., on the borders of Vendée. Their mean height is not more than 450 feet; and they separate the valley of the Loire on the N.E. from those of the Charente, Sèvre Niortaise, and Lay, on the S.W. Neither the Loire nor the Charente traverse any part of the department, but they receive some considerable tributaries from it; the Loire receiving the Sèvre Nantaise flowing towards the N.W., and the Thouet with its tributaries the Cebron, Argenton, and Dive; and the Charente receiving the Boulonne. The Sèvre Niortaise receives the Mignon, which flows along the south-western boundary of the department. Of these rivers, three are

navigable for some distance, the Dive, the Sèvre Niortaise, and the Mignon. There are no considerable lakes in the country, but some ponds and marshes among the hills. The hills themselves are rugged and granitic, covered with wood, and traversed by numerous valleys. From these hills the ground descends on either side to extensive plains; those on the north having, like the hills generally, a granitic formation, while towards the south the prevailing structure of the country is calcareous. Thus, though the soil of the department is, on the whole, rich and fertile, it varies considerably in productiveness in different parts; the southern plain being in general superior to the northern. Agriculture is the chief employment of the people; but it is in a very backward state, few efforts being made to improve the soil. Corn and wine are the principal productions of the country; a considerable extent of ground is occupied by meadows and forests, chiefly on the slopes of the hills; hemp and flax grow in the more moist tracts; and hops are raised with success especially in the neighbourhood of Niort. Of the entire area of the department, there are calculated to be 1,010,000 acres of arable land; 185,000 of meadows; 50,000 of vineyards; 90,000 of wood; and 55,000 of heaths and waste land. The vineyards, which exist only in the south-west portion of the department, produce very good white wines, and excellent brandy. The extensive natural meadows of the country support cattle of good breeds, and sheep of a large size, which by a cross with the Spanish breed have been much improved in the quality of their wool; pigs, mules, and asses are also reared. It is estimated that the department contains 33,000 horses, 114,000 horned cattle, 426,000 sheep, 42,000 pigs, 20,000 goats, 13,000 mules, and 4000 asses. The mineral productions of the country are not of very great importance. Small quantities of iron, marble, mill-stones, chalk, potter's clay, and salt-petre, are the only minerals that are worked. Among the manufactures are those of woollen and cotton stuffs; of leather at Niort; besides distilleries, potteries, oil-mills, &c. The principal articles of trade are live stock; especially mules, which are sent in large numbers to Spain, and cattle which are sent either to Normandy to be fattened, or to Paris. Corn, wine, and brandy are also among the articles of commerce. Internal communication is facilitated by the navigable rivers, by numerous roads, and by a railway which traverses the southern part of the country. Deux Sèvres forms, along with Vienne, the diocese of the Bishop of Poitiers, and contains 5 Calvinist churches. It has 5 courts of law, subordinate to the appeal court at Poitiers, a tribunal of commerce, 4 colleges, a normal seminary, 2 superior and 527 elementary schools. The department has for its capital Niort, and is divided into four arrondissements, as follows:—