278 Report on the Dairy-Farming of the North-west of France. 
makers throughout Russia (the majority being in Poland and 
the central districts), employing close on 7000 workmen, and 
producing annually such machinery of the value of 16 million 
francs. Only 85 of these, however, possess foundries ; few of the 
firms can produce steam engines ; and they have hitherto not 
been successful in the manufacture of reapers. It would ap- 
pear that threshing and dressing machines have received the 
larger share of attention, for in that class of machinery they 
have achieved on the whole satisfactory results. Threshing and 
winnowing machines formed the chief feature of the Russian 
display. Some were well made, combining English patterns ; 
and to some good horse-gears were attached. 
From Sweden there was a large collection of well-finished and 
substantial-looking ploughs, harrows, winnowers, &c. On one 
stand several good drills and mowers, partaking largely of 
American character, were to be seen. Norway was represented 
in the agricultural department by two firms, their collections 
consisting mainly of ploughs, harrows, and similar implements. 
X. — Report on the Dairy-Farming of the North-west of France. 
By H. M. Jenkins, F.G.S., Secretary of the Society and 
Editor of the ' Journal.' 
The part of France which will be treated of in this and some 
other reports on French Agriculture nearly coincides with that 
which formed the subject of Mr. Gibson-Richardson's very 
interesting book, entitled, most aptly, ' The Corn and Cattle- 
producing Districts of France.' * It is more accurately included 
in the portion of M. Delesse's instructive map which is en- 
graved on p. 279. Without some such graphic representation 
as this map, it would be almost impossible to comprehend how 
small a proportion of the land of this region is really in per- 
manent grass, in the face of the outcry that has recently arisen 
in England and Ireland in consequence of the influx to our 
markets of French butter of superior quality. It is necessary 
to draw particular attention to this point, because the excellence 
of the French product has hitherto been attributed chiefly to 
the alleged superiority of the pastures of Normandy, whereas 
most of the butter imported into England from France and 
some other foreign countries is made in districts where "arable- 
land dairying" is the rule, and "permanent grass dairying" the 
exception. It is not, however, pretended that every strip of grass 
in North-western b'rance is represented on a map upon so sn(iall a 
♦ Cassell, Potter and Galpin, 8vo. 1 878. 
