The French Peasant- Farmers^ Seed Fund. 347 
of participating in this new distribution. On the receipt of an 
affirmative answer, the same routine was gone through as was 
found to work so well before, and to give the best guarantee 
possible that the seed was applied to the purpose for which it 
was intended. 
The following summary of the distribution in the North of 
France shows that after giving half-quantities in the Somme, 
Aisne, Pas-de-Calais, and Oise, there remained a large quantity 
to distribute amongst the peasant-farmers in the Seine, Seine-et- 
Oise, and Seine-et-Marne, most of whom had been prevented from 
receiving any assistance in the spring. 
Communes. 
Sacks. 
Persons. 
662^ 
3708 
.. .. 100 
235 
1272 
38 
130 
787 
,. .. 54 
280 
1559 
.. 49 
740i 
1271 
. . , , 38 
531 
804 
, .. 37 
5331 
915 
484 
3112^ 
10,316 
In the southern district Colonel Elphinstone distributed 455 
sacks in the department of the Indre-et-Loire, 460 in the Loir-et- 
Cher, 370 in the Loiret, 300 in the Eure-et-Loire, and 15 in the 
Sarthe. The total quantity of 1600 sacks was distributed in 371 
communes, or an average of 4^ sacks per commune ; and as each 
individual received on an average two decalitres (rather more 
than 2 pecks), Col. Elphinstone calculates that the donation must 
have been shared by 12,000 cultivators, representing so many 
households or families. 
The result of the autumn distribution is soon told. After a 
tour of inspection, made just before harvest, in the course of 
which I examined the wheat crops in several communes in the 
departments of the Somme, Seine-et-Oise, Seine-et-Marne, and 
Loiret, I came to the conclusion that the yield of the English 
wheat would be at least 25 per cent, more than that of the native 
seed grown in the same soil and under the same circumstances. 
It was, in fact, easy to identify the English wheat at a con- 
siderable distance off, by its deeper colour, its greater height, and 
its general appearance of bulk and solidity. The French cultiva- 
tors told me in every district that there was not a laid patch to 
be found in their commune, and also that there was no appearance 
of smut or bunt, whereas a large acreage of the French wheat 
was fearfully battered, and abounded in " noir." Everywhere the 
intention to preserve the crop for seed was expressed as a settled 
course of action. In many cases I was assured that it had been 
bespoken at high prices by the larger fanners in the district ; and 
