Long before any legal action was taken by the French Government it was recognized that there was a certain geographical area to which the term "Cognac" as applied to the production of brandy should be delimited. In the beginning of the enforcement of the law against the importation into the United States of adulterated and misbranded foods, I made a ruling that only brandy made in the Cognac region of France could be imported as Cognac.

French Delimitations

When the French Government by law provided for the delimitation of the Cognac region they established almost exactly the limits suggested in this earlier decision.

The exact limits as established by the French Government are as follows:

The two Departments which comprise the principal regions of the Cognac are the Charente and Charente Inferieure. The Department of the Charente contains the following divisions: First; Angouleme, the most important division of the Charente and also the name of the most important city. It contains about 37,000 inhabitants and is beautifully situated. It is principally placed upon the summit of a hill, which is about 250 feet above the level of the plain. The city is constructed in a* most substantial manner out of the famous stone of Angouleme, which is very soft when first mined and which hardens on exposure. This stone is famous for its building purposes and is exported to great distances. There are a number of ancient monuments in the city and the cathedral is constructed according to the style of the 12 th century of the Roman Byzantine architecture. Angouleme was a city which existed at the time of the invasion of Gaul by Caesar. At that time, however, it was only a small village.

The next most important place in the Charente is Cognac, the city which gives its name to the celebrated product of the country. It is a beautiful city, containing about 20,000 people, and is the center of the commerce in brandy. It is situated on the banks of the Charente, upon an undulating plain, and is of very large extent considering the number of its people. It is not so well constructed as Angouleme, and has more the aspect of a large village than of a small city. One of the most important personages who have lived in Cognac was Francis I, who, before he became king of France, was the Lord of Cognac. His castle has now become a house engaged in the brandy industry.

The next most important point in the Charente is the town of Jarnac, which is situated on the border of the region producing the best brandies of the country. It is also situated upon the Charente river, and is celebrated, especially in history, by the victory which the Duke of Anjou gained there in 1569 against the Prince of Conde. It is not now a warlike region, but has a long time been the center of an agricultural and commercial population.

Another important region of the Charente is the town of Segonzac, which is situated directly in the center of the region producing the most famous of the Cognac brandies, i.e., Grande Fine Champagrte. This kind of champagne must not be confounded with the same word which is used in another part of France to indicate a sparkling wine. It is used here simply to denote the brandy which is produced upon this almost level plain, known as the Champagne.

Chateauneuf is another port of some importance and is the center of the region which produces the second grade of wine called the Petite Champagne.