FRANCE. 35 



very fenfible. Firft, they fallow the ground 

 with great care, giving five or fix plough- 

 ings $ whereas for wheat, they do not give 

 more than three. At each ploughing, per- 

 fons follow the plough, women and chil- 

 dren generally, who pick up all the roots 

 of weeds they fee. They alfo harrow the 

 land three times, picking, in the fame 

 manner, after the harrows. Thefe opera- 

 tions are finished in October ; after which 

 they dig cuts in the wet or fiat parts of 

 the land, to prevent the water ftand- 

 ing ; and thus it is left for the winter. Jn 

 the following Spring, they plough it twice 

 more, which is generally fufricient to get it 

 to a great degree of firmnefs : then they fow 

 barley and luccrn feed together, taking 

 care, that, from the fmallnefs of the quan- 

 tity of the barley feed, the plants mall not 

 ftand too thick to injure the young lucern. 

 This crop of barley is managed in the com- 

 mon manner, and yields feven or eight 

 quarters an acre. Upon my obferving, that 

 jfuch a produce much exceeded the common 

 barley crops, they replied, their barley, 

 after wheat, did not amount to more than 

 two and a half, or three quarters; but the 

 D 2 prepara- 



