NEW VAI^UATION OF UNBUIVr ON LAND 125 



As we see, tne areas of this group have decreased as follows, since 1857 * 



From 185 1 to 1879 2y,2io ha. 



> 1879 .) 1908 258,540 ). 



» 1851 » 1908 2yg,22g » 



It would be difficult to assign a definite signification to these variations 

 for they are due, to a considerable degree, to differences of classification for 

 the three valuations. The ature of the real estate to be included in 

 the group of land cultivated in various ways not being sufiiciently de- 

 fined in 185 1 and 1879, holdings were frequently included in this group 

 which in 1908 were classed in other groups than those of orchards and gard- 

 ens. However, it may be affirmed that the area of the holdings of this 

 group has really diminished to an appreciable degree in certain depart- 

 ments, as, for example in Ardeche and Herault, on account of the reduced 

 cultivation of olive trees and the abandonment of that of chestnuts ; and in 

 Aube, Aveyron, Cher, Ivot-et- Garonne, Nievre and Vienne, through the disap- 

 pearance of hempfields. The most considerable increases are due to the 

 formation of orchards in Basses-Alpes and Calvados, to the extension of 

 market gardening in Seine-et-Marne and Seine-et-Oise and the increased 

 cultivation of early fruit and vegetables, in Vaucluse. 



4. Area of Arable Land and Holdings Valued in the Same Way. — The 

 area of the arable land and holdings valued in the same way, was as foll- 

 ows at the three dates : 



in 1 85 1 25,009,762 hectares 



„ 1879 1 ^^''73.657 » 



( 25-383,105 » 



>. 1908 f 24.508.057 '. 



I 23,g8y,i86 » 



The area therefore increased between 1851 and 1879, ^^^ being the 

 result of the prosperous state of agriculture at the time ; it then decreased 

 between 1879 and 1908. A comparison of the results for 1851 and 1908 also 

 shows a decrease. 



The area of this group decreased successively in 1879 and 1908, in 28 

 departments and increased both in 1879 ^^^ ^90^ ^^ ^7 others ; in six depart- 

 ments it decreased in the period 1851-1879, to increase again in the 



by the valuations of 1879 and i9o8 on condition that the figures for the above depart- 

 ments are first subtracted from the results given for the two latter years. Consequently, 

 we shall show the results for each valuation (limiting our comparison, however, to the 

 valuations of I879 and 1908) in figures of ordinary type, while we shall show in italics 

 the figures given by eacli valuation for the whole country, exclusive of Alpes-Mari times, 

 Corsica, Savoie and Haute-Savoie, and the Increases or diminutions shown by a comparison 

 of these results, on the one hand, for the period 1851-1879 and, on the other, for the 

 period 1851-1908. 



