European Agriculture and Rural Economy. 125 



of intellectual improvement and cultivation, we have too many living exam- 

 ples of this union to leave us to douht ; and the immortal names of Cicero, 

 Bacon, and Washington, show, from their own assertions, that minds, highly- 

 gifted of Heaven, have found their richest pleasure in rural and agricultural 

 occupations and pursuits ; and, in company with many others, in ancient 

 and modern times, form a magnificent constellation of learning, genius, and 

 taste, shedding their splendor upon this useful art.'" — pp. xiii. xiv. 



These numbers are wholly devoted to Continental agricul- 

 ture; viz., that of France, Belgium, Flanders, and Switzer- 

 land ; giving a full account of the crops generally produced — - 

 the markets — live stock — dairies — and especially manures. 

 Among the varied subjects, it is very difficult to make ex- 

 tracts, and, with the exception of the closing remarks, we 

 must therefore refer the reader to the work itself: — 



'■ I must add, in the next place, that I should be glad to see the cultivation 

 of the vine extended in the United States. Jn many parts of France, Ger- 

 many, and Switzerland, it occupies land, steep acclivities, heights wholly 

 inaccessible to a horse or cart, and where the manure is always carried up, 

 the produce brought down, and sometimes the very soil in which it grows, 

 transported by hand. There is land enough in the United States for its 

 cultivation without such extreme toil. As an article of commerce, it would 

 probably prove lucrative ; and, as an article of comfort, perhaps few are 

 more grateful and harmless. I speak, in this case, of the light wines of 

 France, which do not intoxicate, unless drunk to beastly excess. The 

 strong wines of Spain and Portugal are made, by some factitious process, 

 and charged with brandy ; but the light wines of France, being the pure 

 juice of the grape, exhilarate, but do not intoxicate. They take the place 

 of tea and coffee among the laboring people, and constitute an innocent al- 

 leviation of their severe toil. 1 should be soiry in any way to abridge these 

 comforts, especially as I may say in truth, after travelling a long distance 

 in the wine-growing districts, and at the time of the wine-making, or vin- 

 tage, when it is to be had in the greatest abundance, that I saw no drunk- 

 enness or intoxication in any degree ; and 1 may add, that, so far as my ob- 

 servation goes, there is not a more temperate people, than are to be found 

 in the wine-growing departments of France. 



I need not add, that, under the auspicious circumstances in which the 

 United States are placed, her agriculture must be constantly increasing in 

 importance to the country itself, and to the civilized world, for her com- 

 merce penetrates every sea, and her bread-grains, as they have already done, 

 may be of immense importance, and of indispensable necessity, in feeding 

 the inhabitants of the old world. 



This completes the task which I undertook of giving, from personal ob- 

 servations, an account of European Agriculture and Rural Economy. I 

 commend my work to the indulgence and candor of my readers. It was an 



