62 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



contend that this crop, which occasions as much work 

 and requires almost as much manure as wheat, for greatly 

 inferior results, does not merit that consideration which 

 it obtains throughout the rest of Europe, and even in 

 France. This is another of those correct principles in 

 rural economy which suffice to change the agricultural 

 aspect of a country. The abandonment of rye may be 

 considered in the same light as the abandonment of 

 labour by oxen, the increase in the number of sheep, 

 and all the other parts of the English system. 



Eye is still cultivated in France to the extent probably 

 of about three millions of hectares. This includes half 

 the lands sown with wheat and rye mixed. In general 

 it gives a miserable result, yielding no more than five 

 or . six fold, and barely paying the expenses of culti- 

 vation. It would be well to renounce it entirely ; but 

 this is not always practicable. The abandonment of rye 

 would not of itself be sufficient : it is necessary to be in 

 a position to produce something else with success ; and 

 all are not in a position to force nature. To attain 

 their present production of wheat, the English have been 

 obliged to do violence to their soil and climate. The 

 use of lime as a stimulant has been their chief aid ; 

 and similar effects, by the same means, have been pro- 

 duced in many parts of France. At the same time, we 

 must bear in mind this other principle which the English 

 have laid down, that if it is scarcely ever advantageous 

 to grow rye, it is not profitable to grow wheat excepting 

 where circumstances are favourable. Ten hectares in 

 good condition are worth more, for the production of 

 corn, than twenty or thirty partially improved and badly 

 worked. 



While nearly the fourth part of our soil is under cereal 

 crops for human consumption, less than one-sixteenth of 



