1811.] Proceedings of Learned Societies» 59 
tain the absolute number of vibrations, 
by a particular process; but the autlior 
of tlie present memoir has recurred to a 
still more ingenious one: this consists in 
the vibration given to a metallic circle, 
fixed at one of its extremities, of suffi¬ 
cient length to enable the spectator to 
count the oscillations. A similar at¬ 
tempt has been made, and communi¬ 
cated, by M. Paradisi, a member of the 
Institute, and director general of the 
public works in the kingdom of Italy, 
under the title of Hicherche sopi'a la 
'oihrazione della laniine elastiche* 
FRENCH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
At a period when our own agriculture 
is so justly estimated on the continent, 
it may be curious,, and even instructive, 
to leRrn what is now doing in Fiance 
relative to the same interesting subject. 
A Report has lately been published 
relative to the Competition opened on 
the part of the Society of Agriculture of 
the department of the Seine, in order to 
disclose the meliorations which have taken 
place in the Rural FiConomy of France. 
We are told in the introduction, that the 
** first naturalists, the first geometricians, 
and the first astronomers, were only shep¬ 
herds and labourers. The necessity of 
subsistence originally obliged man to 
study the three kingdoms of nature: it 
was in order to reap benefit from the 
soil that he learned to measure it; and 
this having led the cultivator to elevate 
liis eyes towards the stars, the heavens, 
according to the expression of the poet 
of Agriculture^ afforded him ample in« 
struction : 
** Le clel un livre ou la terre etonnee 
Luten Ifittres de feu rhistoire de I’annee.** 
“ But the plough and the cart, after 
having altars raised to them in former 
ages, have, in modern limes, been de¬ 
based by servitude, and disgraced by 
prejudice. The plough-share has not 
made the same progress as the telescope 
and the compass. The higher branches 
of k novvledge, which assumed with good 
reason the epithet of transcendant, per¬ 
ceiving agriculture to liave descended 
from the rank of the sciences to that of 
a base tradef, seemed to disown their 
mother. Although still spoken of with 
honour, she was never encouraged ; and 
of all the learned, the physicians alone 
* Rosset Poeme de I’Agriculture. 
'I' L’art qui nournt le monde est un mechant 
xtiiiiex,—Voltaire^ 
have heartily endeavoured her advance¬ 
ment. 
“ It was not until towards the middle 
of the eighteenth century, that agricul¬ 
ture was suffered to enter the Academy 
of Sciences. At length, rural economy 
and the veterinary art found an asylum 
in the National Institute of France. 
Columella and Vegetius have been 
placed by the side of Euclid and Ar¬ 
chimedes. The art of Ceres, justly con¬ 
sidered as the most essential, and indeed 
the first of all arts, has now obtained in 
France its academies and its temples.^ 
Paris is eager to acquit herself of the 
sacred debt which cities owe towards 
the country, and all seem convinced that 
the empire will discover an inexhaustible 
mine of strength, and of riches, in her 
furrows. What supports mankind, ought 
to be considered as the chief manufac¬ 
ture of the state!” 
Memoir of M. Marc. — This chiefly 
respects the department of tl.e Haute- 
Sai)7ie^ and, in order to convey a proper 
idea of his subject, he has given; 
1. Designs of the chief farming build¬ 
ings, the Common plough and roller, and 
of the dresses of the villagers. 
2. Tabl es of rural affairs, chiefly with 
a view of comparing the population, 
the agriculture, and the products, of 
1784 and 1805. This memoir obtained 
the prize for 1809, consisting of a gold 
medal valued at 500 francs, tlie hono¬ 
rary title of correspondent, and a copy 
of the volumes published by the society. 
The labours of the other candidates 
are divided under the following heads: 
1. Respecting artificial meadows; 
2. The cultivation of the potatoe; 
3. Plantations; 
And 4. Other meliorations. 
We are told that French agriculture 
is still in want of three great improve¬ 
ments: 
First, The abolition of fallows, and 
the breeding and fattening of more cat¬ 
tle, the means of which are afforded by 
artificial meadows. 
Secondly, The subsistence of a nume¬ 
rous population, even in the least fer¬ 
tile soils; of this, the cultivation of po¬ 
tatoes has given a sure guarantee. 
Thirdly, The restoration of the woods, 
which can only be achieved by means of 
nurseries and plantations. 
A'"tificial Me adores.—We find under 
this head, that in 1789 there was not a 
single artificial meadow; and yet such 
has been the rapidity with which they 
hav® 
