EAILWAY RATES 197 



notices certain insect pests wliich destroy farm crops, 

 directs that farmers shall be invited to give notice of their 

 •attack, and requires Prefects and Professors to investigate 

 the subject, and, if possible, devise tlie appropriate remedy. 

 In the second circular, addressed to the departmental Pro- 

 fessors of Agriculture, M. Barbe insists on the losses caused 

 by bad seed, and directs his subordinates to call public 

 attention to the Government Seed Trial Station, established 

 three years ago at the office of the National Agricultural 

 Institute in Paris. It may be added that the Institute, to 

 which are attached experimental farms and laboratories at 

 Joinville, inquires into methods of cultivation, examines 

 and reports upon samples of seed which farmers propose to 

 buy, or investigates the introduction of new varieties, and 

 the amelioration of those already introduced. The Pro- 

 fessors of the Institute, which is temporarily located in 

 the Conservatoire des Ai'ts et Metiers, include the best 

 known specialists of the day, and its director, M. Eugene 

 Risler, enjoys a European reputation as a scientific agri- 

 ■culturist. 



Another point, in which legislation is urgently needed, 

 is the revision of Railway Rates. The question is less 

 simple than it at first sight appears. But the grievance of 

 English farmers is real and substantial. 



Three modes of rating have been proposed : (i.) equal 

 mileage rates ; (ii.) rates regulated by costs of conveyance ; 

 {iii.) differential rates. The third is the principle adopted 

 in England. 



Equal mileage rates are manifestly unfair, because it is 

 reasonable to consider the costs of construction from point 

 to point on the same line, the steepness of the gradients 

 or other costs of service. It may be also conceded that con- 

 sumers derive advantage from special through rates for long 



