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To the Editors of "The American Journal of Horticulture and Florist's Companion." 



Sir, — The reasons that I gave in my last for not undertaking to give you 

 any general description of Germany operate with still stronger force to deter 

 me from making the attempt with respect to France, — a country of still greater 

 activity, a more varied industry, and a greater diversity of climate and produc- 

 tion. France is a country of great commercial activity and enterprise in its 

 constantly-increasing foreign as well as in its domestic trade, where a very 

 varied manufacturing and mechanical industry has attained a vast development, 

 and a perfection that could only have been reached by great practical experience 

 and skill, directed by science and ingenuity ; but still one, where, as in most 

 others, agriculture is the support and occupation of the larger part of the com- 

 munity. Agriculture in France has, as it seems to me, this advantage, — its 

 practice is not confined to the same products for the whole empire, but is 

 divided among several, each suited to the soil or climate of different portions ; 

 thus giving greater opportunities for the exercise of individual skill and intelli- 

 gence, and greater probabilities of profitable results, than if its operations were 

 everywhere limited to one established routine of crops and cultivation. Thus, 

 in some parts of the country, the attention of the husbandman will be given to 

 the raising of the cereals, in others to the cultivation of the vine, and still in 

 others to the mulberry and olive for producing silk and oil ; all branches of 

 one great art, — the cultivation of the soil to the best of its capabilities. Agri- 

 culture in France has attained a very considerable degree of perfection, and the 

 researches of science have been directed to its still further improvement ; while, 

 at the same time, the attention of the government has been given to its further 

 development. The emperor, too, has given to it the benefit of his influence and 



VOL. IV. 21 l6l 



