FRENCH AGRICULTURE. 43 



advances in the last century, chiefly from the superior edu 

 cation of the agricultural class. So great have been the agri 

 cultural improvements that the climate is already perceptibly 

 ameliorated, the winters commencing a month later, and the 

 snow disappearing a month earlier. Yet until the breaking up 

 of the clans and the large consequent emigration of the High 

 landers to Canada, there was no husbandry in Scotland worthy 

 of the name. It now produces the finest wheat in the United 

 Kingdom. The farms range from fifty to a thousand acres; the 

 latter, however, is exceptionally large. One fifth of the cereal 

 crops are oats. The breeding of pedigree cattle and sheep 

 commands the attention of the best Scotch farmers. The con 

 dition of farm laborers is far superior to that in England, and 

 rural economy is better understood. 



Mr. W. Little, in a treatise on the technical education of 

 farmers, says: &quot;The success to which British farming has 

 arrived is owing to mechanical rather than scientific causes. 

 Drainage, steam culture, and a liberal use of capital we have 

 tried; but now chemistry in its application to artificial manures 

 is taking such a prominent position, it is of the first importance 

 that our farmers should be educated, should have such a general 

 knowledge of science as will serve them in their labors.&quot; 



Great attention has been paid to the production of timber in 

 Scotland; and the results of her experiments show that no 

 crop pays better in the end, than trees. Larch and pine are 

 the chief varieties of timber produced. 



French agriculture, like that of England, proves that industry 

 requires freedom for its success. In lectures upon special cult 

 ures I have given the history of several movements, experimental 

 and educational, which have been of immense importance to this 

 nation; but the want of land is the great want of the French 

 farmer. Small farming in the department of the Nord is carried 

 on to excess, &quot;even to misfortune,&quot; according to French author 

 ities. In spite of the developments of manufactures, the popu 

 lation is in the proportion of one to two and a half acres, or 

 greater than in any country except China. France produces 

 almost as much wheat as the United States, upon a territory 

 not larger than Texas. She has, through her work of acclima 

 tization, done more than any other nation to improve the breeds 

 of animals, changing the Spanish merino sheep into the supe 

 rior French variety. She has also made great advances in vet- 



