350 
The French Peasant- Farmers^ Seed Fund. 
from London, Aberdeen, Arbroath, Glasgow, Newry, &c., to the 
French ports of Nantes, St. Nazaire and St. Malo. Arthur 
Albright, Wilson Sturge, James Long, and S. J. Capper were 
despatched as delegates to arrange for the reception and forward- 
ing to the interior of the various cargoes as they arrived ; and 
from the latter part of the third month to the present time, A. 
Albright and one or other of his colleagues have been most 
energetically engaged in the work of transit and distribution, 
and in the purchase of various seeds in addition, which it was 
found they could obtain advantageously in France. 
" It seems certain, that but for the supplies thus distributed by 
our delegates and those of the French Peasant-Farmers' Seed 
Fund, large districts in the Valley of the Loire would have re- 
mained unsown, and the destitution in the coming season would 
have been fearful. Everywhere was the most lively gratitude 
expressed for the seasonable aid afforded, and we may trust that 
the impression of goodwill between those afflicted people and 
their English helpers will not soon be effaced. 
" The cost of seed and seed-potatoes sent by our Committee 
into this district has been about 22,000/., and the quantity is 
calculated to sow about 25,000 acres — being about 48,000 bushels 
of oats, barley, and other seeds, and about 1950 tons of potatoes." 
General Eemarks. 
In the foregoing pages I have endeavoured to give an intelli- 
gible statement of the main work of the Seed Fund and its 
results. In one word, its operations have been highly appreciated 
in France, and the results have been eminently satisfactory. The 
assistance given by the French Government was no doubt an 
accurate interpretation of the national feeling, both when it was 
resolved to admit our seed-corn free of duty, and afterwards when 
our Exchequer was reimbursed with the sums which had been 
paid for railway carriage. 
The economical result of the spring distribution has been well 
summed up by Capt. Delf in the following paragraph, which I 
extract from his Report : — 
" Of the immense benefit conferred by the French Peasant- 
Farmers' Seed Fund upon many thousands of families in the 
worst ravaged districts of France there can be no doubt, as 
several thousands of acres have borne abundant crops of oats, 
barley, potatoes, vetches, maize, &c., which would otherwise have 
remained untilled. The gratitude of the peasantry is unbounded, 
and not a little has been effected by this Society in establishing 
a bond of union and confidence between the agriculturists of 
this country and those of France. A great economical, bene- 
