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tlie pulling" up of tbe vines, labor was superabundant, but here proprietors 

 and laborers were stricken by the same blow. Upon a general review 

 of the situation, the editor strongly dissents from the official statement 

 of President McMahon that the agricultural production of 1874 was 

 unexampled in the history of Fiance. 



Those parts of the country devoted to sugar-beet culture have but 

 little to complain of on the score of crops. They were favored with 

 seasonable weather, and contributed largely to feeding the population 

 by furnishing employment for labor, feed for live-stock, and fertiliz- 

 ing refuse for the soil. The journal, however, complains of the heavy 

 excise duty upon beet-sugar, which has approached that extreme limit 

 in which it ceases to be productive to the treasury. Those parts 

 of France which, from lack of labor, capital, and fertilizers, failed to 

 put in a large crop of sugar-beets will long remember the dronghts of 

 1874. The failure of forage-crops was a severe blow to the farming 

 interest. Many intelligent and practical agriculturists are directing 

 special attention to green maize as a forage-crop, though lucerne, clover^ 

 sainfoin, roots, «&c., are by no means to be neglected. Maize, however, 

 is recommended for those regions which are not favorable to the pro- 

 duction of sugar-beets and their transformation into sugar and alcohol. 

 During the year a great impulse was given to the trade in fertilizers 

 more or less chemical in their character. Preparations of nitrogen, 

 phosphates, and potassa were extensively used in all sections of the 

 country. The necessity of restoring to the soil all the elements extracted 

 from it was more generally recognized. Natural manures were supple- 

 mented with commercial fertilizers. Chemical science has simplified 

 its processes of analysis and multiplied its agencies of investigation 

 through agronomical stations and other institutions. The fertilizing 

 preparations offered the agriculturist have been analyzed at small cost 

 and their true value indicated. It is regretted that Peruvian guano 

 was not subjected to the same test, and that its specific value as a fer- 

 tilizer was not authoritatively ascertained before going into the hands of 

 the cultivator. 



The trade in agricultural implements and machinery seems to have 

 opened upon a new era during the last year. Harvesters, horse-rakes, 

 mowers, drills, straw-cutters, and root-cutters were disposed of in greatly 

 increased number and variety. The steam-whistle was heard in the field. 

 Eival machinery was subjected to numerous public trials. Hand-labor 

 is yielding before machinery. 



The improvement of animals for butchery continued, and numerous 

 large regional fairs were held for the exposition of live-stock generally. 

 A new ecole des liaras was organized for the multiplication of horses 

 suited to the labors both of war and of peace. The Journal does not 

 very highly appreciate the necessity for this measure in view of the 

 excellent veterinary schools which furnish amjile instruction to horse-, 

 raisers. It is objected that this measure will do injury by weakening 

 still further the association of the horse-raising interest with general 

 agriculture. 



Several large agricultural congresses were held at different points in 

 the country for the discussion of matters of importance to the agricul- 

 tural interest, such as the reclamation of land, the raising of horses, the 

 l^reservation of vines, the establishment of agronomical stations, &c. 

 A vit-icultural congress and a sericultural congress, both held at Mont- 

 pellier, brought together the leading men in those important branches 

 of French i^idustry. 



Tiie Journal complains of themismanagement of the agricultural school 



