54 
Agriculture of the Islands of 
chiefly inhabit St. Helier, and principally consist of retired naval 
and military men living on their incomes ; the French and other 
foreigners are for the most part artisans and servants. 
The love of independence dwells in the heart of all Jersey- 
men, who may be said to be hard-working people, straining 
every nerve to better their position. The country-people in par- 
ticular have a strong disposition for the acquirement of money. 
The origin of this is easily detected ; independence in worldly 
circumstances is absolutely essential towards independence of 
character and action ; men therefore employ the means to secure 
this independence ; with acquisition, too, grows the love for more. 
Thus we may easily understand how, in a small community like 
Jersey, its members, gradually enriching themselves and per- 
ceiving the yearly results of frugality, should acquire habits which 
border upon parsimony. 
Limited as may appear the agriculture of Jersey, it has never- 
theless attracted, in several instances, the attention of strangers. 
In the fall of 1856 the Agricultural Society of the Department 
of "La Seine Inferieure," in France, deputed two learned mem- 
bers of that society to the island, in order to report particularly 
on the process followed in the manufacturing of cider, and also 
to collect information on the general system of farming prac- 
tised. The report appeared in the French language some time 
after, under the title of 'Excursion Agricole a Jersey, par 
MM. J. Girardin, Professeur de Chimie a I'Ecole Departementale 
de la Seine Inferieure, et J. Moliere, Professeur d'Agriculture 
du Departement du Calvados.' In giving an account of their 
visit to Jersey, the writers dwell particularly on the varieties of 
apples used for cider-making, and the manner in which it is 
made, and observe that some of the cider which they had occasion 
to taste was far preferable to anything they liad met witli in 
France. On the rotation of crops they say : — ■ 
1st. A great proportion of land is devoted to the cultivation 
of roots and grass, or what is necessary for the maintenance of 
cattle. 
2nd. That only one sort of grain (i. e. wheat) is grown. 
3rd. That by growing so large a proportion of root-crops the 
soil receives the greatest possible advantage it can obtain, either 
in manure from the extra number of cattle kept, or in cleanli- 
ness from the great attention which root-crops demand. 
4tli. That the great variety of food given to cattle tends 
greatly to keep them in a better state of health. 
5th. That by the system followed, a larger proportion of cattle 
can be maintained than by that which is followed in the nortliern 
departments of France. 
