oOO French Expciimental Farm at Vavjours. 
Last, but not least of evils, come tlie rabbits, wliicli are 
charged in the balance-sheet with damage amounting to 128/. ; 
that is to say, three times the amount of rates and taxes, and 
nearly half the rent, although account is only taken of the; 
principal crops which were injured. 
Lodgineiit of Crops. 
The chief disasters met with at Vaujours arose from the lodg- 
ment of the crops, which called forth the following observations- 
from the manager: — 
Whilst, on the one hand, agricultural profit hinges on grow- 
ing a maximum crop, a lodged crop is a certain loss. It is^ 
therefore, important but difficult to hit the mean of bulk. 
The limit is very variable. Whilst in the rich alluvial lands 
of Norsig-le-See from 55 to 60 bushels of wheat per acre may 
be grown without danger from lodging, elsewhere the corn is. 
prostrate so that the weeds grow through it, and the yield is. 
destroyed if an attempt be made by manuring to exceed a crop 
of from 22 to 28 bushels. 
Fresh and highly nitrogenous manure adapted for immediate 
assimilation promotes this lodgment. This remark applies to 
sewage. 
From experience of such effects at the Central Reservoir, as 
well as at Vaujours, it was determined almost to abandon the 
growth of wheat. But, unhappily, oats, which Avere necessary 
for home use, also lodged ; and if they did not suffer equally 
in the grain, the cost of harvesting was greatly increased. This, 
drawback has been diminished, but not removed, by growing 
foreign varieties of seed. 
But, with us, in 1860, the mischief did not stop here. Even 
the crops of rape and rye-grass, forced on by copious dressings 
of sewage applied in winter by the pipes, developed extra- 
ordinary foliage, and ended hy being lodged. This happened 
especially on poor lands highly manured in winter. 
If the rye-grass be nearly fit for the scythe before it is lodged, 
the damage is not great, though cutting will then cost more; 
but when the mischief takes place at an early stage ot growth, 
the loss is serious. The grass will rot as it stands, it not cut 
directly ; and, even then, it is hard to make, shrinks in drying, 
and assumes a bad colour — in fact, it must be consumed as green 
fodder. 
the example of the Imperial farms and large German establishments, a purveyor 
■was put into a cantiiie, under a contract to board both day-labourers and men 
doing task-work at a given rate. Nevertheless, the growth of crops requiring much 
hand-labour has been necessarily abandoned, and task-work has been substituted 
lor day-work when possible, and machinery introduced. The hay-maker and 
liorse-rake are already in use, the mower and reaper in contemplation. 
