262 Improvement of Poor Lands by Subsoil-Floughmg. 



The distance of the ridges will allow the wheels of my carts to 

 take 2 ridges between them, the horse walking in the interval 

 between them. Thus I shall draw the turnips without injury to 

 the land, even in wet weather ; but I mean to avail myself of a 

 few dry days to take them off and set them in a sheltered situa- 

 tion, as close as possible, Avith the tops on, where they will con- 

 tinue to vegetate slowly, and no frost will injure them, as I know 

 by experience. — 



This minute detail of my operations may appear tedious, but it 

 tends to establish an important fact, that cold Avet clays may be 

 improved so as to bear good crops of turnips, even without under- 

 draining. I do not pretend to say that underdraining would not 

 greatly improve this field ; but it has not suited my purpose or 

 convenience to do so hitherto, and I have made it profitable with- 

 out draining. I would not on any account use the subsoil-plough 

 here, unless I first drained it thoroughly. 



The subsoil-plough does wonders in lands which have a porous 

 subsoil, even when employed by itself; but, unless its application 

 on stiff wet lands be accompanied ivith draining, it makes them 

 worse, keeping in the water vviiich would otherv/ise run off the 

 surface. 



W. L. Rham. 



Winkfeld, Berkshire, November 1, 1839. 



XXVI. — On French Agriculture and State EstabUshments. By 

 John Evelyn Denison, Esq. 



A SPIRIT of agricultural improvement is showing itself in France. 

 At a moment when this subject is attracting so large a share of 

 public attention in this country, it may be a matter of interest to 

 some persons to know what is the present condition of agriculture 

 among our neighbours in France, and what are the means in ope- 

 ration towards its advancement. 



That the two countries differ most widely in all that relates to 

 agriculture — that, seeking the same end of improved cultivation, 

 they set out almost from opposite points and employ very different 

 means, — would increase rather than diminish the interest of this 

 inquiry. 



In England the land is in great measure owned by large pro- 

 prietors, and cultivated by tenants possessed of capital and skill : — 



In France the land is almost infinitely subdivided among small 

 proprietors. 



In England the individual enterprise of landlords and tenants 

 detects deficiencies, and supplies the remedy :-— 



In France, from the want of capitalists, the government is 



