Account of the Climate, <SfC of the North of France. 231 



sions in the course of a few years. The progress made after 

 engrafting is also remarkable; in some instances, indeed, that 

 I had an opportunity of observing, it exceeded any thing I 

 could have imagined in so northerly a climate. It may be 

 observed, that the trees incline to the east, and that on their 

 sides next to the sea there are comparatively few branches. 

 The agricultural productions are, in general, of the best qua- 

 lity ; wheat and rye in great abundance, a great quantity of 

 these being sent to the interior. The diseases which affect 

 the corn, are said to be le charbon, la nielle, la rouille, le ble 

 mouchete ; the ergot of the rye is of very rare occui-rence. 

 It is not uncommon, excepting in the summer months, to see 

 the meadows, pastures, and, in some places, even the corn- 

 fields, covered with water. Hence it happens, that when the 

 autumn is particularly rainy, the sown fields are ruined, and 

 it becomes necessary to re-sow them in the month of March. 



Potatoes are in general cultivation, though not so much 

 used as in Britain, excepting on occasions of scarcity. There 

 are some varieties to be met with in the markets. The first 

 is characterized by paleness of the skin and whiteness of the 

 flesh, resembling, in these respects, the variety named white 

 blooms in some parts of Scotland, but in other respects it is 

 much superior. It is, upon the whole, rather tasteless, and is 

 most apt to be injured by frost. The skin of the second has 

 a fine claret colour, and the flesh, sufficiently dry, is more 

 compact than that of most other varieties. It seldom exceeds 

 the size of an egg, has an agreeable flavour, and is much used 

 in soup along with "other vegetables. The third is an excel- 

 lent and beautiful variety of the kidney species. The skin 

 is of a bright claret colour, which extends into the flesh. It 

 grows from two to five or six inches in length, and of uniform 

 thickness, which is seldom so much as an inch. This potatoe 

 is very dry, has a very agreeable flavour, and though, with 

 other varieties of the kidney species, it is not very productive, 

 it is surprising that it is not met with in our gardens. It is 

 usually the first that appears in the market, and must be con- 

 sidered an early variety. The fourth is that named the black 

 potatoe, though its flesh be the whitest of all. This, as else- 

 where, is cultivated for spring use, being universally recog- 



