Report on the Agriculture of Belgium. 
sometimes very well, but sometimes very roughly. It is set in 
the midst of a heavy square frame, and usually requires at least 
two animals to draw it. 
Rolling is a very favourite practice, and we shall have to 
revert to it again ; but on small farms it frequently happens that 
such an implement as a roller does not exist. In this case the 
frame of an old harrow, or the harrow in use turned upside down, 
is laden with tree-stumps, stones, &c., and dragged across the 
field instead. This makeshift is evidently the origin of a 
special implement, peculiar to Belgium, called a "■ traineau.^* 
The difference consists chiefly in the boards which fill up the 
triangular space enclosed by the harrow-frame. 
One other implement deserves mention, namely, the weeding- 
iron. It is like a small hoe at one end, and a miniature rake 
at the other. It is not more than 15 inches long, and is held in 
the middle, so that either end may be used as required. This 
is the implement used by the weeders (chiefly women), who 
crawl with it against the wind, on their hands and knees, with 
their aprons held up to receive the weeds and thinned plants. 
The practice of sowing broadcast makes the operation, especially 
in the case of turnips, particularly laborious. The use of this- 
weeding-iron takes the place of horse-hoeing and hand-hoeing, 
neither of which, as we understand them, is ever practised in la 
petite culture. A large heavy hoe is very much used instead of 
the spade or the plough, to break up stubbles previous to sowing 
turnips. 
4. Farmyard Manure. — It would be almost impossible to 
infuse into a body of English agricultural labourers the same 
amount of interest in any subject as is displayed by all classes- 
of Belgians in farmyard manure. Its collection, preservation, 
and application are all fruitful topics of conversation and sub- 
jects of debate. It is continually either " vett " in Flemish, or 
"fumier" in French, upon which the argument has turned; 
and as an actual fact it has a most important bearing at once on 
the greatest excellency and the greatest defect in Flemish farming. 
Throughout the light-land district it is carefully stored in a build- 
ing similar to our old-fashion barns, but with a much lower roof, 
while the large and better farmers in the Polders and the heavy- 
land districts of West Flanders, prefer to have well-constructed 
buildings similar to the skeleton-barns of Cheshire. The latter 
plan seemed to us by far the more preferable : it is not so expen- 
sive ; and as the manure is always trodden by calves and heifers, 
there is more ventilation for them, while the protection is not 
less effective. But in the district of la petite culture, the sup- 
posed superiority of the manure is more considered than the cost 
of its attainment, therefore a close building is preferred for storing 
