268 



Transactions of the 



FRANCE. 



French agriculture, like that of England, proves that industry requires 

 freedom for its success. In lectures upon special cultures I have given 

 the history of several movements, experimental and educational, which 

 have been of immense importance to the nation: but the want of land 

 is the great want of the French farmer. Small farming in the Depart- 

 ment of the Nord is carried on to excess, "even to misfortune," accord- 

 ing to French authorities. In spite of the developments of manufactures, 

 the population is in the proportion of one to two and a half acres, or 

 greater than in any country except China. France produces almost as 

 much wheat as the United States, upon a territory not larger than 

 Texas. 



HOLLAND. 



It is in that country, "redeemed by weeds from the dominion of the 

 sea," that we find the laborer and the land enjoying the highest pros- 

 perity. There is no "waste land in the low countries, and no waste of 

 human power. Recreation with this frugal people is not so much rest 

 as a change of occupation, and while neither art or any higher culture 

 is neglected, there is no subordination of the useful to these ends. 



Deep tillage is the characteristic of husbandry in the low countries, 

 and the most perfect adjustment of the system of rotation to the special 

 conditions of the soil. "No manure, no coin; no coin, no commerce," 

 has been on the lips of the Fleming for generations. The following 

 table shows the diversity of products which would be obtained from one 

 thousand acres: 



Products. 



Acres. 



Cereals and farm crops 



Alimen tary roots 



Man ufacturin g plants 



Legumes, pears, beans, vetches, etc 



Fodder plants 



Prairie land 



Fallow 



Gardens 



Wood 



Waste (at rest or periodically cultivated) 



Total 



3S7.34 

 50.66 

 25.22 

 20.38 

 59.83 



139.19 



• 31.08 



19.17 



186.58 



124.55 



1,000.00 



A great deal of machinery is used by the large farmers. Tanks for 

 the collection of the night soil are seen along the roadsides, parings of 

 turf; animal droppings are carefully gathered and composted. Liquid 

 manure is preferred on account of its freedom from weeds. A hectare 

 is frequently treated with fifty one hundredths hectolitres, especially for 

 tobacco. We cannot wonder at the enormous crops which are obtained. 

 Dung pits are made for the excrements of cattle. Ammoniacal fertil- 



