334 The French Peasant-Farmers^ Seed Fund. 
The capitulation of Paris on the 28th January having been 
succeeded by the signature of the preliminaries of peace on the 
26th February, the latter event was followed by a large influx of 
subscriptions. 
On February 21st the Lord Maj or's Committee made their first 
grant of 5000Z. to the Seed Fund. It was therefore determined, 
on the following day, to purchase 1500 quarters of spring wheat 
for distribution in the district of La Beauce, — the principal grain- 
producing region of France. Colonel Elphinstone superintended 
the distribution in this district, the history of which offers a 
close parallel with the course of events just described. The 
wheat bought with the Mansion House grant was followed by 
oats, barlev, &c., purchased with our own subscriptions, and 
Colonel Elphinstone availed himself of the assistance of Captain 
Rennick and other gentlemen. Mr. Miles Lewis was also 
engaged by the Committee to travel with the grain from 
Honfleur to Tours and elsewhere, — a precaution, the necessity 
of which was fully borne out by experience. By these means the 
whole of the grain sent to this district was satisfactorily distri- 
buted, and without delay, the quantities having been as follows : — 
1650 quarters of wheat, 1040 quarters of barley, and 810 
quarters of oats, sent by the Seed Fund direct ; also 4280 sacks of 
potatoes, 394 sacks of oats, and 20 sacks of various kinds 
of seed, sent by two Irish Committees at Dublin and VVaterford. 
The English Committee further sent 50 quarters of spring tares, 
and 4000 packets of small seeds, of the same description as those 
sent to the Aisne ; and they also paid lOOOZ. towards the cost of 
one of the cargoes sent by the War Victims' Fund. For this 
1000/. Colonel Elphinstone received for distribution 8500 bushels 
of oats, 338 sacks of barley, and 158 sacks of potatoes. Unfor- 
tunately this consignment reached him so late that the period of 
sowing oats in that district had expired, and it became necessary 
to sell them for fodder ; but the sum realized, nearly 4s. per 
bushel, showed a gain rather than a loss, and the Committee 
authorized him to expend the amount in the purchase of maize 
in the South of France. 
Departments. 
Seed-corn. 
Potatoes. 
Small seeds. 
Total. 
Indre et Loire 
3,021 
2,832 
394 
6,247 
Sarthe .. .. 
738 
652 
117 
1,507 
Loir et Cher .. 
5,760 
4,871 
522 
11,153 
Loiret 
4,150 
1,309 
314 
5,773 
Eure et Loir .. 
3.170 
1,096 
393 
4,659 
Total . . 
16,839 
10,860 
1,740 
29,339 
