French Agriculture and State Esfahlishmenfji. 269 



tion of tlie card of the coverlno^, shall address in exchange, and 

 through the same channel, to the proprietor of the mare, a certifi- 

 cate bearing evidence of the facts there enumerated. 



This looks like very cumbersome machinery among a rural 

 people^ for an object of small importance^ and the whole opera-.- 

 tion seems to revolve in a circle, bringing back in the end a cer- 

 tificate to the individual proprietor, of a fact of which he, in the 

 first instance, supplied a certificate himself. 



But these infinite circles of correspondence result necessarily 

 from the nature of establishments governed from a common centre. 



The second branch of assistance afforded by government con- 

 sists in disseminating- information and instruction in matters re- 

 lating to agriculture, and in trying, practically, experiments ; by 

 public lectures, by societies, by associations, and by departmental 

 model farms. There are three principal courses of lectures on 

 agriculture : and, by a regulation made in 1836, the science of 

 agriculture, divided into three branches — cultivation^ mechanics, 

 and chemistry, — forms part of the superior instruction in the Con- 

 servatoire des Arts et Metiers. 



With respect to the societies and associations, and depart- 

 mental model farms, the course pursued by the government is to 

 require annual reports through the prefets, who forward appli- 

 cations from those quarters where assistance is desired. The 

 government asks, Have you land for a model farm ; have you 

 a subscription, and to what amount? " When these preliminaries 

 are satisfactorily arranged^ the government grants the assistance 

 required. 



The societies, the chief of which is at Paris, are chiefly engaged 

 in theoretical matters, in proposing prize essays, corresponding 

 with other societies, &c. The associations (or comices) are ex- 

 actly like our local agricultural societies ; holding meetings, grant- 

 ing prizes for good conduct, for good management, for improved 

 implements, improved breeds of Ccvttle, &c. To show the rapid 

 progress which these institutions are making, there were — 



Societies. Associations. 

 In the year 1824 . . 17 41 

 - - 1839 . .154 468 



The government grant is generally about 40/. to each society, and 

 from 8/. to 201. to each association. 



In addition to all this, with a view to attempt to naturalise the 

 tea-plant in France, an agent has been sent to the Brazils, to col- 

 lect information and to send home plants. An agent has also 

 been sent to China, to learn the management of silk-worms, and 

 to collect information also about the tea-plant. A. distinguished 



u2 



