448 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



Look at Flanders, for an example. The soil is detestable, as 

 we have seen ; and it is unhappily a country where a multitude of 

 small farms are held by tenants, as in Ireland ; but happily the 

 peasant proprietor exists by the side of the small tenant. 



The working capital of a farm, which in England is estimated at 

 from ^lo to ,\2, amounts here to 500 francs {20). The gross 

 produce may be taken at 600 francs (^24) per hectare. As regards 

 live stock, there were to be found in 1 846, 5 5 heads of horned cat- 

 tle, 12 horses, and 8 sheep on every 100 hectares superficial area. 



For England (not including Ireland and Scotland) M. de La- 

 vergne gives the following averages for the same year : 33 heads 

 of horned cattle, 6 horses, and 200 sheep per 100 hectares. 



Bringing these figures down to the common standard of heads of 

 great cattle,^ we find 64 heads in England and 68 in Flanders ; the 

 land of Flanders being at the same time worse than any in England. 

 The average rent of land in Flanders is 100 francs (^4) per hec- 

 tare, and the value or selling price varies from 3500 to 4000 francs 

 {1/^0 to jQi6o). Rents and selling prices have doubled since 

 1830. These results are not equalled in any other part of Europe. 



The fact that the Flemish husbandman derives such abundant 

 produce from a soil naturally so poor is due to the following 

 reasons ; viz. : 



1. The perfection of both plough and spade work. 



2. Each field has the perfection of shape given to it, to facili- 

 tate cultivation and drainage. 



3. Most careful husbanding of manure. None is wasted either 

 in town or country, and all farmers, down to the poorest tenants 

 and labourers, purchase manure from the dealers. 



4. The great variety of crops, especially of industrial plants, 

 e.g., colza, flax, tobacco, hops, chicory, etc., yielding large returns 

 and admitting of exportation to the most distant countries. 



5. Second, or "stolen," crops, such as turnips and carrots, 

 after the cereals, of English clover, spurry, etc., whereby the 

 cultivated area is in effect increased one-third. 



1 In reducing sheep to great cattle, we have adopted the proportion of 8 : i, 

 instead of the usual one of lo : i, the English sheep being exceptionally superior 

 as regards flesh and wool. 



