The Farm of M. Disscz. 
29 
From M. DIssez's farm we may get a glimpse of the Half- 
holder's management ; it is in " the Rje-lands," a granitic soil ; 
the best fields were always in corn ; the worst, after two corn- 
crops, lay fallow for four or five years. The small amount of 
stock kept did not furnish a 'dressing of more than 3 tons of 
manure per acre, when applied, (The supply of manure has 
been increased sixfold.) The rye-crop never exceeded 7 to 8 
bushels per acre ! The landlord's share of the proceeds was 
never worth more than 64/. Liming (160 to 200 bushels per 
acre) and deep cultivation, ample manuring up to 40 tons per 
acre for roots, and irrigation with water charged with lime, have 
so changed the farm that the old and new produce may be 
contrasted as follows : — 
Old Crops. Xew Crops. 
Wheat, per acre ■ . . . . none 32 bushels. 
Eye 7 to 8 bush 24 „ 
Oats 40 
Barley 40 „ 
Straw (average) 1 ton 8 c%vts. 
Pastures .. .. as Hay .. .. 1 ton 12 cwts. 
Clover and layers, tares. Stover .. 2 tons. 
Green maize 12 
Carrots 20 „ 
Beet 12 „ 
Turnips 8 „ 
Potatoes 7 tons 4 cwts. 
Stock of Hay .. 40 tons .. .. 200 tons. 
The value of the proceeds has risen from 64Z. to 320/. or 360/. 
for the last five years. 
M. Dissez has introduced short-horns into Aveyron, and pos- 
sesses two bulls, three pure-bred and four half-bred cows; he 
has had New Kent and Southdown rams, and a New Leicester 
boar. His rotation, after liming the land, is — 1st, roots heavily 
manured ; 2nd, corn ; 3rd, half clover, half tares or maize ; 4th, 
com : 175 acres are already under this treatment. The jury 
awarded him a gold medal for the perfection of his root-crops. 
Baron Dufau has produced similar results — has increased the 
produce of wool 50 per cent. ; grows more produce with less 
seed, raising 3000 bushels of potatoes from 137 of seed, instead 
of 1900 bushels from 150 bushels ; keeps his own accounts by 
double entry. A gold medal was awarded to the Baron for his 
buildings. 
M. Rodat, of Olemps, the third candidate, is the son and suc- 
cessor of the most distinguished farmer of Aveyron, the winner 
of the first local prize, which was awarded in 1841, who then 
based his pretensions on these grounds — 1, the substitution of 
alternate husbandry for the three-course ; '2, the introduction of 
improved implements into the district ; 3, accounts kept by 
