PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 795 



devoted to that industry, from eight to ten fold since the intro- 

 duction of sugar-making. 



The cattle furnish an immense amount of manure, which, applied 

 to the deeply-ploughed and well-weeded beet lands, enhances their 

 productiveness for the cereal crops. 



In 1853, when the emperor and empress came to Valenciennes, 

 a triumphal arch was erected, with the following inscription: 



Sugar Manufacture. 



Napoleon I. v:Jio created it. — Before the manufacture of lieet 

 sugar, the arrondissment of Valenciennes, produced 695,750 bushels 

 of wheat, and ftittened 700 oxen. 



Napoleon III. who iwotected it.-^ Since the manufacture of beet 

 sugar was introduced, the arrundissement of Valenciennes produces 

 1,157,750 bushels of wheat, and fattens 11,500 oxen. 



The brothers Fievet hi;ivc a model farm of 552 acres at Masny, 

 which is considered the best in France. They are sugar manufac- 

 tm-ers, and fatten 800 head of cattle and 3,000 sheep every year. 

 I visited there last winter, and spent a day in their manufactories 

 and on their farm. They attribute their success as cultivators to 

 the immense amount of manure that the beet pulp enables them 

 to make, to the improved condition of the soil, and also to the 

 increased amount of profitable service of the land, consequent 

 upon beet culture, no fallows being required. 



Thej^ have cultivated the farm for thirteen years : the crops are 

 beet, wheat, oats, rye, and hay. I shall give some of the results 

 of the eleven 3'ears preceding 1864. The average amount of laud 

 in oats had been thirty acres. In 1853 the crop was 45^ bushels, 

 in 1862 nearly 92| l)ushels, and the average for the whole time 

 within a fraction of 70 bushels to the acre. 



The crop of straw increased in like proportion, and averaged 

 two tons to an acre. In 1863 it was nearly three tons. 



The crops of vyc improved in a still greater latio — increasing 

 from 17 to 34^ bushels per acre, averaging nearly 30 bushels, with 

 two tons of straw to the acre. 



The average crops on 156 acres of wheat had been over 36^ 

 bushels to the acre. 



Parts of the land had sometimes produced 67| bushels to the 

 acre, and,no portion had ever yielded less than 20-^ bushels. The 

 yield of hay had been over three tons; and of beets twenty tons 

 to an acre. 



