FRANCE. 175 



fome time before the three other horfes are 

 bought, among whom there is not one 

 young one. They go halves alfo in a flock 

 of fheep : one furnifhes him with two 

 hundred for three or four years, during 

 which they divide the profit, whether 

 arifmg from the fale of wool, old fheep, or 

 wethers, for the females they are all kept. 

 At the end of the term, they divide what 

 are left ; half is taken by the owner of the 

 flock, and the reft is left with the young 

 farmer : he is affifted with cows in the fame 

 manner. The farmer fells his corn for pay- 

 ing his rent, the continuation of his ex- 

 pences, and his taxes ; and, after all thefe 

 are paid, what he can lay bye may be called 

 his profit. But there is commonly great 

 diflrefs before thefe payments are all made, 

 without encroaching on the fum for his ne- 

 cefTaryexpences; after twenty years of labour, 

 many die without having them, and more 

 flill leave fcarce enough to pay their debts. 

 The cGconomy of the farmer, an oeconomy 

 fo neceffary to his poverty, renders it im- 

 poflible for him to draw from his land as 

 much as it will give ; for, every day, from 

 a deficiency of wealth, he muft refufe his 



farm 



