The French Peasant- Farmers' Seed Fund. 
34& 
The War Victims' Fund. 
Although the object of this paper is to describe the operations 
of the French Peasant-Farmers' Seed Fund, it would be incom- 
plete without some reference to the War Victims' Fund, — a 
powerful organization formed by the Society of Friends. With 
their distributions of food, clothing, tools, and money, we have 
nothing to do in this Journal, although they represent an enor- 
mous sum of money, and have done an incalculable amount of 
good. Their distributions in seed-corn and potatoes, however, 
alone represent a value of more than 30,000/. ; and as they were 
made in districts adjoining those in which the operations of the 
Seed Fund were carried on, and in conjunction with our represen- 
tatives, we may regard them as having fulfilled the same function 
as ourselves in districts where our means would not allow us to 
work. The following summary of their distribution in seed-corn 
and potatoes is taken from the General Report of the Com- 
mittee : — 
Metz District. — " As the winter wore on, the uncultivated 
condition of the land, due to the scarcity of horses, the impossi- 
bility of obtaining seed-corn, and the depressed condition of the 
people claimed the serious attention of the Committee, and a 
special deputation went out to Metz to inquire into the suitability 
of the land for steam cultivation. Under their advice a complete 
double set of Fowler's Steam Ploughs and Cultivators was sent 
out, and has been doing good work in bringing into cultivation 
the larger plots of land, thus finding employement for many, and 
setting free the few horses that remained to work the smaller 
plots. Very large consignments of seed-corn, suitable to the 
district, and of seed-potatoes were also made : and, after much 
labour and anxious deliberation, were distributed amongst the 
needy proprietors and cultivators in all the villages round Metz, 
in time for the spring sowing. The total quantity thus sent 
was about 28,000 bushels of barley, oats, and other seeds, and 
about 970 tons of potatoes, costing about 10,250/., calculated to 
sow about 11,000 acres." 
Loire District. — " Acting in concert with the delegates of the 
French Peasant-Farmers' Seed Fund Committee, of which Lord 
\ ernon is president, preliminary arrangements were made for the 
distribution, through local committees appointed in the chief 
towns of the devastated districts, of oats, barley, and potatoes, 
for spring sowing. The season was so far advanced that the 
utmost exertions were needful in despatching and distributing in 
time for this year's crop. Fourteen cargoes, amounting to about 
oOOO tons, were purchased and despatched by various steamers 
