222 CIIYMISTRY APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE, 



gress, and France and England have divided this branch 

 of industry between them. 



France was already in possession, almost without a rival, 

 of manufactures of silks, lawns, cambrics, laces, fine cloths, 

 and several other articles essentially connected with its 

 agriculture ; but England, toward the middle of the last 

 century, opened a branch of industry in the cultivation of 

 which she has enjoyed a high superiority till the present 

 day, — that of the spinning and weaving of cotton; and, 

 since that period, she has carried to a remarkable degree 

 of perfection all other kinds of manufactures. 



France has constantly shown herself superior in the ap- 

 plication of chymistry to the arts; England in the con- 

 struction and employment of machinery. ' 



The application of the sciences to manufacturing opera- 

 tions has rendered labor more regular, more prompt, more 

 economical ; the fabrication of products has been no longer 

 limited, and their consumption has increased, in conse- 

 quence of their superior quality and low price. 



But has this great revolution, effected in manufacturing 

 industry, been advantageous to the human race ? It has 

 unquestionably been so to the undertaker, and to the con- 

 sumer ; but has it also been so to agriculture ? 



Formerly, almost all the manufactured articles necessary 

 to the inhabitants of the country, were made in every coun- 

 try household, and whatever was not needed for domestic 

 use, was advantageously sold ; to this labor were devoted 

 the long winter evenings, and all the time not required for 

 the cultivation of the soil. The low price to which the 

 use of machinery has reduced these articles no longer 

 permits the farmer to sustain a competition in price, and he 

 finds himself deprived of a resource which was of itself 

 sufficient to pay his taxes : thus agriculture is a sufferer. 



These large manufacturing centres have attracted the 

 inhabitants of the country by the offer of higher wages ; but 

 hardly has he entered the establishment, when a total 

 change takes place in him ; he is no longer the frugal peas- 

 ant ; in changing labor, diet, and society, he gradually con- 

 tracts new habits ; his health is affected, and the human 

 race is insensibly deteriorated. Should a stagnation of com- 

 merce take place, he is thrown out of employment, and 

 has then no resource but in public compassion. 



These inconveniences are carried to^excess in England, 

 where the vicissitudes of commerce often peril the exist- 

 ence of half the population, and cause disorder in society. 



