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Limousin Fkuij Trade. 



[Jan., 



exclusively "controlled" seeds, which are somewhat more 

 expensive than the seeds that are not submitted to control. 

 The institution is represented throughout the country by 

 agricultural councillors attached to the agricultural societies. 

 Their business is to buy samples of seed from time to time 

 from dealers and send them for analysis. In case it is found 

 that bad seeds are being sold in certain districts, the office 

 may issue a warning to purchasers against buying seeds in 

 these districts, but the office has no power to prosecute sellers 

 of inferior seeds. This can only be done by taking civil 

 action. 



There seems, however, to be a growing desire among agri- 

 culturists that the sale of seed should be regulated by law, 

 and it is possible that before long a Bill may be laid before 

 the Rigsdag for this purpose. 



The Board have received, through the Foreign Office, a 

 report prepared by Mr. Vice-Consul de Luze on the fruit trade 



of Limousin. Mr. de Luze observes 

 Limousin Fruit Trade, that travellers from Paris to Toulouse, 



emerging from the long pass where the 

 River Vezere rolls its waters between two lines of mountains, 

 see before them a wide and fertile valley. This valley, 60 

 miles in length, extends from the granite hills of Le Saillant 

 to the Gausses, passing by Brive and Beaulieu. It is planted 

 throughout its length and breadth with fruit trees, which give 

 it, during the month of May, the aspect of an immense 

 orchard. The peasants who labour in the rich red soil of the 

 district are a strong, hard-working race, highly skilled in the 

 art of cultivating fine and beautiful fruit. From Limoges to 

 Brive, by way of Objat, the same scenery presents itself. At 

 Objat, one of the most flourishing and important centres of 

 fruit exportation, hundreds of carts arrive daily from May to 

 December laden with fruit and vegetables. There are no less 

 than 70 exporters or commission agents in the Brive district. 



Varieties of Fruit Grown. — The climate is particularly 

 favourable to the growth of the Reine* Claude plum (green- 

 gage). More than 4,000 tons are produced, the chief centres 

 being Brive, Objat, and Les Ouatres Routes. The produc- 



