60 EXTKACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR [June 1895. 



REPORTS. 



dispose of the assertion that large domains are being re'Constj/- 

 tuted, and that minute divisions of small holdings are no longer 

 taking place. , , , 



In 1882, there were about 2,151,000 holders of land in France 

 tilling their own property, and 3,525,000 freeholders who; not 

 only cultivated their own ground, but hired small farms in 

 addition, or acted as servants, metayers, or daily labourers; In 

 1862, tillers of their own soil numbered only 1,813,000. Sir 

 Crowe states that there has been a further increase of indepen^ 

 dent land proprietors since 1882, and the tendency of small 

 agricultural landlords has been to increase, with the result that 

 sub-division has continued and not fallen off. 



In summarising the state of agriculture in France in 1894, 

 Sir J. Crowe says that the agricultural fortune of that country 

 is concentrated on wine, spirits, corn, cattle, sugar, butter, 

 cheese, market gardening, and silk, and it may be stated gene- 

 rally that there is little prosperity to be f ouiid in any of these 

 branches of production. 



Breeders of stock affirm that though value has increased since 

 the disastrous drought of 1893, consumption has diminished,^ 

 whilst prices have but imperceptibly risen, and imports have 

 increased whilst exports fell. 



Sheep breeders vainly tried to recoup themselves for losses in 

 wool by increased attention to animals yielding abundant meat. 

 Butchers note that meat fell in price 7 per cent, in 1892, 3 per 

 cent, more in 1893, and that there is at present no symptom of 

 revival. Similar depressing accounts are given of silk, butter, 

 and cheese. 



Sir J. Crowe concludes that agricultural depression exists 

 in France, and that its results are seriously felt ; but he states 

 that it is not easy to give a trustworthy account as to the 

 severity of the depression. 



[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 1498. Price 2c^.] 



Wheat Growing in France. 



. The following information on the Cultivation of whfeat-in 

 France is contained in Sir J. A. Crowe's recent report on the 

 agriculture of that country, to which reference has already been 

 made. 



The area under wheat in France, which was 17,000,000 acres 

 in 1862-71, and 17,290,000 acres in 1882-88, was, according to the 

 latest statistics, 17,468,377 acres in 1893, and more rather than 

 less in 1894. 



The quantity of wheat produced in continentar France duifitig 

 10 years past has varied from 41,250,000 quarters in 1884, to 

 34,375,000 quarters in 1893, and 42,780,000 quarters, mostly^ 



