36 
The Prize Farms of France. 
deserts of the south-east would afford us ample proof of modern 
skill and energy. 
But it is not desirable further to extend this paper. Enough 
has been written to throw some light on the present state of 
French agriculture, the prospects of which are rather to be 
measured by its rate of progress, than by its actual average 
attainments. In estimating those prospects we must pay due 
regard to the force of good example emanating from numerous 
centres. The pebble stirring the lake's surface is hardlv a more 
fit emblem of the gradual expansion of intelligent self-love into 
universal philanthropy, than of the growth and spread from fence 
to fence of the influence of sound agriculture. In this point of 
view these splendid prizes may be doing more effectual work than 
even their authors can recognise. Their operation must be in 
itself an object of interest to us, who, out of our private purses, 
expend so large a sum annually on premiums, every one of which 
has its weak side. 
When we are comparing French agriculture with our own, we 
may naturally be anxious to inquire whether the fiscal burdens 
imposed upon it are equal to ours ; and it may be interesting to 
know how they are levied and assessed in a country where the 
vigilance of a central power does much to remove local in- 
equalities. 
As competitors in the same markets, w e may, perhaps, regard 
our neighbours' progress with some anxiety, even if it be found 
that they have no advantage over us in resjiect of taxation ; but, 
in another larger point of view, we cannot but hail it with un- 
mixed satisfaction. Agricultural progress is the best guarantee 
for peace ; the home farm and its interests are the best antidote 
to the thirst for glory ; and if this was true when farming 
plodded on in one monotonous round, how much stronger must 
be its attraction when modern science and enterprise have given 
a new" zest to every season and every operation ! To strike for 
the hearth and the altar, no arm is so strong and resolute as 
that of the small landholder; no man will so sadly obey the 
call to foreign service, made by an imaginary dictate of honour. 
It is to be regretted that among ourselves those classes which 
once held their land on the condition of doing suit and service 
to their lord or their king, now form so small a portion of the 
Infantry which bears the motto of " Delence, not Defiance." 
If a more complete survey of the most important farms in 
France could be given, it would be a valuable handbook to the 
agricultural tourist. In these davs all classes find leisure to take 
a short trip abroad, and a poor, listless sight-seeing recreation 
it is to the majority. But if the idea of a traveller be ever restored 
to what it was when the much-enduring Greek Prince knew the 
