MEASURES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 387 



CXIX. MEASURES OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE 

 IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The measures of the government for the advancement of agri 

 culture have much to recommend them, if they are carried out 

 in an intelligent and faithful manner. 



1. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. In the first place, there 

 is a department of agriculture, the secretary or minister of which, 

 being one of the first men in the kingdom, is expected to look 

 after this great interest ; to obtain statistical returns of agricul 

 tural produce from all parts of the kingdom ; to learn what is the 

 condition of the art ; what improvements have been made : what 

 improvements are most required ; and what is the condition of 

 the agricultural population. 



2. STATISTICAL RETURNS. The statistical returns of the 

 produce of France have been recently completed, and show a 

 work of immense industry and labor. It is obvious that such a 

 work can present only an approach to exactness ; but even that 

 is of great value ; and it will be found that some facts have been 

 brought out, in respect to the average increase of the crops, 

 which are in the highest degree encouraging. These returns 

 have been obtained by a direct application to well-informed and 

 confidential individuals, in different parts of the country, who 

 have made their returns to the central bureau in Paris. A great 

 variety of subjects have been embraced in them, such as the 

 amount of land in cultivation ; the amount of land devoted to 

 different crops; the manure applied; the quantity of seed em 

 ployed, and the average yield. It extends, likewise, to the 

 number of persons engaged in agriculture, and the number of 

 domestic animals reared or kept in every department, with a 

 great variety of agricultural and commercial information, sub 

 sidiary to and connected with the subject, of a very interesting 

 character, and of equal utility. This magnificent work does the 

 highest honor to the government, and to the persons employed 

 in its execution. 



