The Prize Farms of France. 
9 
or in tlie monej-market, like to cast an anchor on terra-firma, 
and carry with them their dash, their enlarged range of view, 
and their command of capital. 
Thus many agencies tend to the rapid development of French 
agriculture. Many motives also induce us to note our neighbours' 
progress : free competition, generous emulation (the happier f(n-m 
of national rivalry), the satisfaction of observing the leaves they 
have taken out of our book, the hope of gleaning something 
from theirs. Nor is this interest confined to our agricultural 
community, for other classes are equally interested in our supplies 
and the demands to be set against them. 
If, then, we have every reason to look for agricultural progress 
in France and to note its steps with care, perhaps a review of 
some of the latest awards of the grand prizes {les Primes 
cTHonneur^ given by Government for the best and most improved 
farms, may be a good means of gaining an insight into this 
subject. The French Government contributes to the encourage- 
ment of agriculture by paying a salary to the members of the 
Imperial and Central Society of Agriculture, by giving prizes and 
medals for stock and implements annually in the twelve districts 
into which the country is divided ; and by giving a prize of 200?. 
in money, and a silver cup worth 120Z., to the owner of the best 
farm in one of the six or seven departments contained in each of 
these twelve districts, besides very considerately assigning medals 
and smaller gratuities to the manager and faithful servants on the 
prize farm. 
The sum total thus expended in 1861 for prizes, &c., is as. 
follows : — 
Number of Prizes 
Money. and Medais, 
For cattle* £16,167 .... 1274 
„ sheep 3,429 .... 403 
„ pigs 1,456 .... 250 
„ poultry 212 .... 187 
„ implements .. .. .. .... 2422 
„ farm produce .. .. .. .. 204 
Prizes for farms and their 
attendants 4,320 .... 180 
£25,'584 .... 4920 
The prizes offered for horses are not included in this list, because 
they have special shows and prizes assigned to them. 
The "Prime d'Honneur," or Farm Prize, is thus announced: 
" For the best managed farm on which the most useful im- 
provements have been introduced." 
* It is -worthy of remark that of this sum £26 IG is bestowed on pure-bred short' 
horns, and £1808 on short-horn crosses. 
