THE POSSIBILITIES OF AGRICULTURE. 109 



Rhone, and in the lateral valleys of the Ard^che and 

 the Drome, the country is an admirable orchard, from 

 which millions' worth of fruit is exported, and the land 

 attains the selling price of from 325 to 400 the acre.* 

 Small plots of land are continually reclaimed for culture 

 upon every crag. On both sides of the roads one sees 

 the plantations of apricot and cherry trees, while between 

 the rows of trees early beans and peas, strawberries, 

 and all sorts of early vegetables are grown. In the 

 spring the fine perfume of the apricot trees in bloom 

 floats over the whole valley. Strawberries, cherries, 

 apricots, peaches and grapes follow each other in rapid 

 succession, and at the same time cartloads of French 

 beans, salads, cabbages, leeks, and potatoes are sent 

 towards the industrial cities of the region. It would be 

 impossible to estimate the quantity and value of all that 

 is grown in that region. Suffice it to say that a tiny 

 commune, Saint Ddsirat, exported during Ardouin Du- 

 mazet's visit about 2000 cwts. of cherries every day. 



I must refer the reader to the work of Charles Baltet 

 if he will know more about the extension taken by 

 market-gardening in different countries, and will only 

 mention Belgium and America. 



The exports of vegetables from Belgium have in- 

 creased twofold within the last twenty years, and whole 

 regions, like Flanders, claim to be now the market- 

 garden of England, even seeds of the vegetables pre- 

 ferred in this country being distributed free by one 

 horticultural society in order to increase the export. 

 Not only the best lands are appropriated for that pur- 

 pose, but even the sand deserts of the Ardennes and 

 peat-bogs are turned into rich market-gardens, while 

 large plains (namely at Haeren) are irrigated for the 

 same purpose. Scores of schools, experimental farms, 

 and small experimental stations, evening lectures, and 



* Ardouin Diimazet, vol. vii., p. 125. 



