DROME, a department in the south-east of France, formed of parts of Dauphin4 and Provence, is bounded W. by the Rhone, which. separates it from Ardeche, N. and N.E. by Isere, E. by Hautes-Alpes, S.E. by Basses-Alpes, and S. by- Vaucluse, and lies between 44° 8' and 45° 20' 25" N. lat. and 4° 41' and 5° 55' E. long. To tbe east it is covered by spurs of the maritime Alps, one of tbe largest of which forms part of its eastern boundaly, and throws off ridges, mostly wooded, that run east and west with tolerabi2 regularity. These ridges divide the department in its whole extent into three great valleys, having a general slope west-wards to the Rhone, namely, that of the Isere in the north, that of the DrOme, which occupies the central portion of the province, and that of the Aygues, in the south. The Rhone and Isere are both navigable. The former receives the whole of the drainage of the department. The soil consists of clays and argillaceous sand with rolled pebbles. Irrigation canals are nuinerous, and are skilfully managed. The climate, except in the valleys bordering the Inoue, is rather cold, but on the whole bracing and healthy. Snow is visible on the mountain-tops during the greater part of the year. The principal forest-trees are the pine, beech, and oak. In the valleys flourish the olive, chestnut, vine, alinond, mulberry, nut, and other fruit trees, and wheat and madder are grown. Black truffles are abundant. 13esides agriculture the principal industries are the rearing of silk-worms and sheep, and the manufacture of wines, the best of which are the red and white Ermitage, of woollen, cotton, and dyed linen goods, spun and woven silk, paper, oil, ropes, earthenware, and leather. The wool and wood trades are considerable. The mineral products include iron, copper, lead, lignite, marble, granite, black and red potter's clay, millstones, chalk, and cement-stone. DrOme is divided into the arrondisse,ments of Valence, Die, Montolimart, and Nyons, comprising 29 cantons and 366 communes. The capital is Valence. Of the total area of 652,155 hectares (1,610,823 acres) about 511,227 acres are arable, 115,866 under wood, 329,961 heath, 58,430 vineyards, and 49,203 meadow. The population in 1872 was 320,417.