THE RURAL SOCRATES. ' 93 



it was farther perceived, that the views of promot- 

 ing the agricuUure of the canton of Zurich could not 

 •be fully attained without an exav.1: knowledge of the 

 adual circumdances of the country, as regarding rural 

 economy. Yy\ , Hirze! therefore prefented to the Socie- 

 ty in 1761 a plan q\' t ihlcs for each village. Different 

 columns were appropriated to the regiflcr of the hou- 

 fes, hearths, families, ni'jrried men, widowers, unmar- 

 ried males (whether above or below the age of puber- 

 ty,) abfent men, and fervants ; ali^-^ of the married wo- 

 men, widows, unmarried females, (whetlier marri^^e- 

 ble or otherwile,) abfent women, and female lervants ; 

 and lad of ail the lum total of the perlons compofing the 

 family, with the profe'ffion or trade followed by each 

 family. Another column exhibited the profeflior; or 

 Ipccies of manufaiflures w^hich the family purfued. Five 

 other columns were provided for arranging the land 

 tinder one of the ^wc kinds of landed property ; name- 

 ly meadows, fields for grain, vineyards, paftures, and 

 woods. — Afterw^ards came twelve columns for noticing 

 refpedively the number of oxen, cows, and young cat- 

 tle ; hories, mares, and colts ; hogs, fheep, and goats ; 

 geele, fowls, and pigeons ; and laftly another for bee-< 

 hives. — Heiice an idea was obtained of the population, 

 the diiicreut properties, and the different means of lub- 

 fidence of the different villages. — Above each column 

 a memorandum was placed, inviting information in 

 writing concerning the quality of the houfcs and land, 

 their value or produce ; as alfo concerning the Ip rings 

 rivers, atid canals ; and likewile refpectiug the precau- 

 tions taken with refpe^l to fire and other objects of po- 

 lice. -An extrad: of the marriages, births, and deatli v 

 from old rcgiflers being added, a comparifon was made 

 eafy with thofe of tlieprefent time. — Ey thefe means the 

 Society has fmce obtained accurate intciligencc relpt^6l- 

 ing the country. Wherever there were difficulties 

 attending this intelligence the peafantrv v/cre called 

 upon to explain then:j% 



ConfC'rcpcc; 



