12 
Hie Prize Farms of France. 
wide, with drainagre and pump complete. He has also a spacious 
airy sheep-stall (bergerie), in four compartments, with a rack 
specially devised to keep the dust out of the animal's eyes. The 
bergerie seems almost universal in France; if only an adjunct of 
the merino race, will it hold its own? In 1851, M. Dubosc's 
farm capital was 1440Z. ; in 1860, 2000Z. ; he clears about 200/. 
a year above his expenses. A very pletisant picture this of 
enerCTVj prosperitv, and progress in a quiet wav. 
The next claimant on our attention is M. Aubrv, who, eis 
tenant, has had a shallow, poor, cold, clay soil to contend with 
on 242 acres, of which 200 are arable, 1^ acres being in sea- 
rush. By aid of composts his crops — wheat, flax, tares, peas 
— are reported to be superb, and his rapeseed to ])romise 
a yield of 38 bushels per acre. The flock called forth special 
praise — 240 ewes (Cauchoises) put to choice rams, and other 
sheep to make up 600 head ! The cow stock amounted to 
30 head, a cross of short-horn. Of the eight dairy cows one gave 
23 quarts, another 16 quarts per day. 
On the next farm — that of AI. Papin (215 acres) — beet, grown 
as an industrial crop, again calls for attention. ]M. Papin claims 
to be the originator in those parts of mangold culture on a large 
scale, and the use of its pulp for fattening stock. 
In 1852, when M. Langlet, a sugar-refiner at Rouen, wished 
to start a distillery, and for that end to contract for a supply of 
2000 tons of beet, M. Papin (his brothers aiding him) had the 
hardihood to take the contract. He then went to " the North " 
to study beet-culture, and persuaded his neighbours to be guided 
bv him, to adopt his views, and grow this root, himself aiding 
their efforts by his advice and by a staff of from 150 to 200 
workmen emploved to cultivate and cart the crop. The notion 
that wheat would not do well after beet gradually disappeared, 
and the pulp became appreciated as cattle-food. By the use of 
lime and of English seed he has doubled his wheat-crops, and 
the produce of his meadows has likewise been doubled. The 
status of himself and his predecessor is thus contrasted : — 
Kew Inventory. Old Inventory. 
Cow stock 30 .... 6 
Horses 13 .... 8 
Ewes 220 .... 150 
Lambs 200 .... 140 
AVheat crop in sheaves .. 24,000 .... 14,000 
Oat crop in sheaves 7,000 .... 5,000 
liape-seed 131 bush. (.>) 6| bush. 
Mangold 150 tons 0 
M. Papin's services were held to deserve special recognition, 
but we are not yet in the front rank of the race. 
The jury's perplexities only begin with the next aspirant. 
