1 8o4. Comparative Trial of different Breeds of Bheep. 3 1 1 



On the Agriculture of the Netherlands, By the Abhc ManN. 

 Extracted from z^ih Vol. of Hunter's Georg'ual Effays. 



The characlcriftic features of the Belglc peafants are, indufry^ 

 great oeconomy^ and a (hong attachment to the methodi* and cuf- 

 toms of their predecellbrs. 



Few people are more attached to their cuftoms and pracliccs 

 than the Belgic peafants. They feldom change their methods of 

 agriculture, being perfuaded that their forefathers were as wife 

 and knowing as thcmfelves, and that what they did, is the befl: 

 themfelves can do. Whatever may be judged of their manner of 

 living, and of the form of their dwellings (in which, however, they 

 are as contented and happy as the moft elegant Englifli farmer), 

 it will eafdy be acknowledged by thofe thoroughly acquainted with 

 the Flemidi agriculture, that their practices are far from being 

 either bad or irrational : on the contrary, it feems that long ex- 

 perience has fo well fucceeded in adapting thefe to the nature of 

 the foil, that it would be hard to do any thing better. During 

 the many years I was at the head of an eftablilhment which had 

 many farms in property, and dehrous to have them cultivated to 

 the beil advantage, I tried what experiments I could for this pur- 

 pofe. The intelligent farmers whom I often confulted on thefc 

 heads, gave me fatisfa£tory reafons, why the methods they fol- 

 lowed were preferable to what I propofed doing ; and alfo why 

 this would not fucceed, as it proved in effe6l. The general re- 

 fult which I have been able to form, from what I know of the 

 Flemifh agi-iculture, is, that they draw from their farms the bed 

 crops, and the moft food for great and fmall cattle, fowl, &c. 

 which the foil is capable of producing. The quantity thereof is 

 certainly great, when compared to any extent of land in Ger- 

 many, France, Spain, England, or any other country I am ac- 

 quainted with. The comparifon, if made with due knowledge 

 and impartiality, will certainly turn in favour of Flemifli agri- 

 culture, whatever may be faid in preference of the neatnefs and 

 elegance of the methods ufed elfewhere, and of the ufefulnefs of 

 the new-invented machines employed therein. 



What I have already faid, is as much as this ElTay will admit 

 of, on the general nature of Belgic agriculture. I fliall now add 

 a few words on the principles which the legiflature follows witht 

 refpe^l to it. 



Thefe are chiefly confmed to the following heads : ly?, Per- 

 miffion for exportation of corn in times of abundance, and re- 

 ftridtions in times of fcarcity : 2dlyy Ordinances for bringint; 

 corn to be fold at the markets, and for preventing it to be bought 

 on the field, or at the farmer's : 3^/y, Ordinances, in fome pro- 

 vinces. 



