EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 39 



the neighbourhood of Montpellier (Naturalist, Vol. II., p. 487). The companion 

 of the merchant of Montpellier of whom we have spoken now confirms the news, 

 adding details worthy of attention. The following letter is inserted in an excel- 

 lent publication entitled Bulletin de la Societe a" Agriculture du Department de 

 I'Herault. December, 1836. 

 Letter from M. Vialars, Sen., on the Attempts to cultivate Rice, 



UNDERTAKEN AT MaNDIERAC, PROVINCE OF AUDE. 



It is true that the society of agriculturists has this year gathered Rice within 

 the jurisdiction of Mandierac. This trial proves that the culture might be car- 

 ried out on a large scale, which will in fact be done next year ; but it must be 

 confessed that few localities are better fitted for the culture of Rice than 

 Mandierac. Its lands are marshy, and possess water in abundance to inundate 

 such parts as are required for growing Rice. 



It is an error too widely circulated that Rice-grounds injure the salubrity of a 

 country. The countries where this culture has been introduced were originally 

 marshy, and from this fact alone it ought to cause fevers. It may even be said, 

 in favor of the Rice-grounds, that they destroy these marshes and drain the 

 country ; for instead of stagnant waters sending forth unhealthy miasmata, there 

 is only fresh water. It is true that towards the period of the maturation of the 

 Rice the grounds become dry, and that the neighbouring inhabitants are exposed 

 to fever ; but it is only what happens in our country on the borders of the marshes, 

 and it has been ascertained that in Lombardy, where Rice is cultivated, the mor- 

 tality is not greater than in any other part of the country where this culture has 

 not been introduced. 



It is evident that the first trial cannot give a precise idea of the result to be 

 expected in future ; but it is useful to ascertain that Rice sown in a salt country 

 has flourished and produced seed. The Rice-grounds of Piedmont and Lombardy 

 are not topographically more favorably circumstanced than those of the provinces 

 of Aude and Herault ; the latter are even in a more meridional latitude, which 

 may be an advantage, since, as every one knows, the kingdom of Valence, con- 

 siderably south of us, produces Rice in abundance ; but even supposing that the 

 Rice-grounds of France produced less than those of the foreign country, we 

 should have, with or without reason, the droit protecteur of 24 fr. in 100 kil., 

 which would be advantageous to the proprietors of Rice-grounds, but detrimental 

 to the consumer. 



The experiment made by our society has been opposed by various circum- 

 stances independent of its control ; next year we may probably obtain positive 

 data respecting the produce of this culture, which I shall be happy to transmit 

 to you. 



Rivesaltes, Nov. 19. 



