292 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Increase percent, (in decimals), 1838 to IdoG. 

 No. of Factories. Power. Hands. 



Cotton .. -21.495 G2.419 46.355 



"Woollen.. 13.842 .... 25 929 .... 44 305 

 Worsted,. 26.201 .... 107.692 .... 177.583 



Fla.v 6.377 .... 65.226 84.268 



Silk .... 71.641 .... 52.955 .... 63.650 

 In looking at the first tabular statement of motive- 

 force employed, represented by mechanical " liorse- 

 power," it will be observed that while the total increase is 

 great, there has been a steady diminution of the amount 

 of water-power, the total increase of power being due to 

 the multiplication of steam engines, which — with those 

 of new factories, those erected in lieu of water-wheels, 

 and those substituted for engines of smaller power- 

 have nearly doubled in total effective force in a period 

 of only eighteen years. 



The substitution of the unremitting and constant 

 power of steam for the fluctuating and uncertain power 

 of descending streams is a hopeful indication for the 

 farmers and inhabitants of low lands and valleys, for so 

 many rivers and watercourses will run the freer, with 

 improved district drainage, and healthiness following 

 as a consequence. No one has yet ascertained the 

 amount of water-power engaged in driving not factories 

 only, but the myriads of flour mills and "works " of 

 all kinds throughout the length and breadth of our 



country wherever rivers are found to flow. Data for 

 comparing the power thus taken advantage of, with 

 the extent of the mischiefs occasioned by the damming 

 back of tlie streams which are every year being re- 

 quired to discharge larger volumes of drain water, 

 would be exceedingly valuable. And were the state of 

 the case clearly made known to the nation, we should 

 oon liave a substitution of steam for water-power 

 along the course of many rivers, the abolition of mill- 

 wheels altogether in some districts, and a vast augmen- 

 tation and extended use of the water-power in others. 



Whether it be possible or not to ascertain how many 

 portable and fi.^ed steam-engines, and of what com- 

 bined power, are employed in thrashing, chaff-cutting, 

 grinding, pumping, sawing, &c., for " the agricultural 

 interest " we hope that steps will bo taken to keep a 

 record of the number of steam-ploughs and steam cul- 

 tivating machines supplied to farmers from the com- 

 mencement of the new practice now fairly inaugurated. 

 By-and-bye wo shall be able, with such facts before us, 

 to estimate the total saving in labour, the number of 

 horses displaced, and their share of provender given to 

 beef-making animals instead, and the probable increase 

 of produce and advantage to our husbandry — now 

 threatened with various discouragements and low 

 prices, that make long faces. 



THE CORN LAWS OF FRANCE, 



A considerable degree of agitation prevails in France 

 at the present moment, on account of a new com law, a 

 draft of which has been presented to the Chamber of 

 the Council of State, for their consideration and approval, 

 by the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. 



In 1821 a law was passed for the establishment of the 

 sliding scale, which was remodelled in 1832, and con- 

 tinues the law to the present time ; but in 1853, in con- 

 sequence of the deficiency in the crop of wheat, a decree 

 WES promulgated suspending the law for the time being, 

 and this suspension has been annually renewed every 

 year since, without repealing the law of 1821. During 

 the intervening period of thirty-eight years there have 

 been nineteen years of low prices, and nine years of ab- 

 solute scarcity In these latter seasons France was 

 only saved from famine by the temporary suspension of 

 the sliding scale ; whilst in years of abundance the law 

 had no effect in preventing low prices, for during the 

 nineteen years referred to, the average price of wheat 

 was under 15 francs per Iiectolitre (or about 4s. Gd. per 

 bushel). The effect of the law has proved very injuri- 

 ous to the farmer, for it prevented him fcom exporting 

 wheat, except when the price was at the minimum ; 

 whilst, on the other hand, it allowed importation only 

 when that grain had attained the maximum price. 



The question of the abrogation of the law of 1821 is 

 considered as decided, every enlightened person in 

 France being convinced that it is no longer in accor- 

 dance with the actual circumstances of the country. It 

 therefore remains the subject of debate with the French 



people, whether an entire free trade in corn, or a fixed 

 duty for the purpose of protection, should be resorted 

 to. The former, we believe, is likely to be adopted, 

 with the reserve of a duty, as a measure purely financial, 

 of 1 franc per hectolitre (or 2s. 6d. per imperial quar- 

 ter) on importation ; exportation to be at all times free. 



This alteration is strongly opposed by the agricul- 

 tural committees of different arrondissements, and by 

 some of the French writers ; not, however, on the 

 ground formerly taken, of the inability of the French 

 farmer to compete with foreigners, but on that of the 

 protection granted to the iron and coal trades, which 

 compels them to buy those materials at the dearest 

 market, whilst they sell their corn, silk, wine, and mad- 

 der at a cheap one. There is reason in this objection ; 

 and we can hardly think that the French Government, 

 in adopting free trade in corn, will allow the protection 

 laws on iron and coal to remain on their code. 



The benefit of the decree suspending the sliding scale, 

 and admitting the free export and import of corn, re- 

 ceived a very satisfactory illustration last year. The im- 

 ports of wheat and flour for 1858 amounted to 1,431,014 

 metrical quintals (about 2 cwt. each), whilst the exports 

 reached 4,221,903, being an excess of exports over the 

 imports of 2,793,919 metrical quintals. One of the 

 chief arguments of the advocates of the sliding scale is, 

 that, if a free trade at all times is established, the ports 

 of the Mediterranean seaboard will be inundated with 

 wheat from Egypt and Southern Russia ; or, at any 

 rate, the fear and apprehension of such an influx will 



