492 Horse Labour in France. 



the horses ; in summer those that work in the morning rest in 

 the afternoon, and thus work only half a day. 

 Every year the stables are debited — 



1st. The value of the team fixed at the preceding inventory, 

 in which the decreased value of the horses was taken into con- 

 sideration. 



2nd. The repairs of implements, waggons, harness, shoeing, 

 veterinary attendance, losses, &c. 



3rd. The consumption of food. 



4th. The straw and other litter. 



5th. The attendance of the drivers and stablemen. 



6th. The due proportion of stable and other building rent, 

 taxes, repairs, &c. 



They are credited — 



1st. The debtor's side of the preceding inventory. 



2nd. The value of the manure at per load. 



3rd. The amount of sales in horses and fattened oxen. 



From all these items it is reckoned that the average cost of a 

 horse or ox's day's work is 2 francs 92 centimes, about 2 shillings 

 and 5 pence, exclusive of resting days. 



The oxen draw with a collar like horses, and are used even in the 

 shafts, but principally for ploughing, and drawing the thrashing- 

 machine, and when necessary for carting also. Horses are prin- 

 cipally employed in carting when the state of the weather does 

 not allow Avorking on the land. 



Another eminent agriculturist from the same department, a 

 member of the Council General, has given me the following 

 information : — 



Small holdings employ 1 horse for about 12 acres ; and large 

 holdings 1 horse for about 20 acres, which tallies with the pre- 

 ceding statement. A good draft horse receives per day — 



1st. From 8 to 9 quarts of oats. 



2nd. 14 lbs. of grass-hay, clover, or lucerne. 



3rd. 14 lbs. winter vetches, beans, or rye, according to the 

 season. 



4th. At different times during the year a certain quantity of 

 meal and bran. 



5th. 1 6 lbs. of wheat straw. 



All these items, calculated from their average prices, would 

 bring the cost of one day's feeding to about 1 franc 76 centimes, 

 equal to 1 shilling and 5 pence. 



The corn is generally given whole, but the mode of bruising it, 

 and cutting the hay, straw, &c., into chaff", is getting more and 



