Seine-et-Marne

Seine-et-Marne, a dept. in the north of France, is bounded on the W. by the dept. of Seine-et-Oise, and forms a portion of that wide basin in the middle of which stands Paris. Area, 2214 sq. m.; pop. (1891) 356,709. The dept. is drained by the Seine and its tributaries (Yonne and Loing) and the Marne and its tributaries (Ourcq, Petit Morin, and Grand Morin). The surface is broken into a series of plateaus separated by valleys. Timber is grown in every part; and among the forests is that of Fontainebleau. The soil is generally fertile. Wheat, oats, potatoes, beet-root, and fodder crops are the chief productions. Building-stone, gypsum, clay, sand, and peat are extracted in large quantities. The manufactures are very varied, and embrace paper, sugar, porcelain and glass, spirits, flour, books, gloves, and other branches. The cheeses of Brie are well known, and so are the roses of Provins. The white grapes of Fontainebleau have a European reputation. The capital is Melun, and the arrondissements are Melun, Coulommiers, Fontainebleau, Meaux, and Provins.