Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/591

 LOIRE distance of 450 m. ; and between this point and Noirie, 45 m. higher, it is navigable downward only. In the lower part of its course it is ob- structed by shifting sands, but these impedi- ments are obviated by a canal known as the canal lateral d la Loire, completed in 1838. frhe river is also subject to floods, to guard against which extensive works have been con- structed. The inundations in 1846 and 1856 were especially formidable. In its upper course the river is a romantic mountain tor- rent ; as it descends, its valley widens and em- braces extensive plains, so richly covered with orchards, vineyards, and corn fields, that they have justly received the name of the " garden of France." The basin of the Loire is esti- mated at one fourth part of all France. LOIRE, a S. E. department of France, consist- ing of the old province of Forez and portions of Beaujolais and Lyonnais, bordering on the departments of Sa6ne-et-Loire, Eh6ne, Isere, Ardeche, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-D6me, and Al- lier; area, 1,838 sq. m.; pop. in 1872, 550,611. The surface consists chiefly of extensive plains broken by the mountains of the Cevennes and Forez, and by several isolated volcanic hills of black basalt. The Loire flows centrally N. through its whole extent, and the Rhone flows for a short distance on the S. E. border. The heights separating the valleys of the Loire and the Allier are chiefly composed of granite rocks or of the older limestones and sand- stones. This department contains one of the richest coal fields of France. Lead, iron, build- ing stone, granite, and potter's clay are the other most important minerals. The soil is not of superior quality, but produces hemp, fruit, wine, oil seeds, grain, madder, and excellent pasturage, on which feed great numbers of cattle and sheep. In the valley of the Rh6ne mulberry trees are extensively grown for the production of silk. Pine, fir, oak, and beech grow on the mountains, and large quantities of pine are converted into charcoal. Chestnuts I form a staple in the common diet of the people, ! and are largely exported to Paris. The inanu- ! factures are important, and include firearms, j cutlery, ironware, machinery, cotton, woollen, silk, and linen goods, glass, bricks, canvas, earthenware, lime, &c. It is divided into the arrondissements of Montbrison, Roanne, and St. Etienne. St. Etienne, the chief manufac- turing town, became the capital in 1855 in place of Montbrison. LOIRE, Haute. See HAUTE-LOIRE. LOIR-ET-CHER, a central department of France, including a large part of the old prov- ince of Orl6anais and a small portion of Tou- raine, bordering on the departments of Eure- et-Loire, Loiret, Cher, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, and Sarthe ; area, 2,452 sq. m. ; pop. in 1872, 268,801. The surface presents a number of elevated and extensive plains, and is nearly equally divided by the Loire, the district N. of which is traversed by the Loir and its affluent the Braye, and that S. by the Cher, LOIRET 585 Sauldre, Beuvron, and Cosson. The S. E. of the department presents a vast marshy plain which contains many hundreds of ponds. The soil is of various qualities : in the N. E. it is a dark rich loam, in the S. E. clay and sand, along the Cher calcareous, and the N. W. part is arid and covered with heath. The chalk formation occupies a large portion of the de- partment. The chief crops are grain, wine, fruits, vegetables, beet root, and hemp. Ven- d6me is noted for its draught horses, and the Sologne district for its sheep. The climate is in general mild and salubrious excepting iu the marshy S. region, where malaria prevails, and where the population is in a wretched condition. The manufactures consist of coarse woollens, cotton cloth, hosiery, gloves, sugar, leather, glass, and earthenware. It is divided, into the arrondissements of Blois, Romorantin, and Yenddme. Capital, Blois. LOIRE-INFERIEURE (Lower Loire), a W. de- partment of France, in Brittany, bordering on the bay of Biscay and the departments of Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Maine-et-Loire, and Vendee; area, 2,654 sq. m. ; pop. in 1872, 602,206. The coast line is about 60 m. long, and broken by a number of bays. The inte- rior is level, with the exception of a line of low hills in the north. The department is watered by the Loire and its tributaries the Sevre-Nantaise, Acheneau, and Erdre. The Vilaine touches the department on the N. "W. border, and there are several less considerable streams. Grand-Lieu, formerly the largest lake in France, situated near the left bank of the Loire, with which it communicated by the Acheneau, has been recently dramed. The principal minerals are coal, iron, lead, tin, slate, granite, quartz, mica, kaolin, and feldspar. The soil is generally fertile. The chief products are wheat, rye, buckwheat, mixed grain, bar- ley, and wine. The pastures are excellent, and cattle of good breed and horses are numerous. The principal manufactures are linen, cotton, and woollen goods. Ship building is exten- sively carried on at Nantes, Paimbreuf, and Pellerin. On the coast there are large fisher- ies. The commerce with North and South America, Africa, and the East and West Indies is important. It is divided into the arron- dissements of Ancenis, Chateaubriant, Nantes, Paimbceuf, and Savenay. Capital, Nantes. LOIRET, a central department of France, con- sisting of a part of the old province of Orleanaio and a small portion of Berry, bordering upon Seine-et-Oise, Seiue-et-Marne, Yonne, Nievre, Cher, Loir-et-Cher, and Eure-et-Loire ; area, 2,614 sq. m. ; pop. in 1872, 353,021. The sur- face is level or gently undulating, and is trav- ersed by the Loire, Loiret, Loing, and a num- ber of smaller streams. Water communica- tion is much extended by the canals of Briare, Orleans, and Loire. There are several exten- sive forests in the eastern and central parts of the department. The soil is generally fertile, especially N. of the Loire. The chief products