ISll.J Proceedivgs of PiioUc Societies, ^57 
connected masonry, or other ponderous be suflered to liahg in similar lines, slightly 
structures, with piles or without, in order curved from one side or bank to the other, 
and to the end, that the said piles, &c, and, in either case, I do dispose upon the 
shall be capable of sustaining and per- said chaitTs, longitudinally and crosswise, 
inanently resisting the action of a consi- such ht pieces of timber or iron, or other 
derable force, applied or exerted in di- suitable materials, as shall constitute a 
Tactions tending to bring the same toge- platform, which, by the connection or 
tfier. And I pass across the said river, disposition of the materials thereof, shall 
from the upper or other convenient part afforrl a-proper support fora road or pave- 
of the said piles, several strong metallic ment/of the usual structure, or for rail- 
cfiains, parallel to, and at suitable dis- roads, wliich last I connect, unite, an4 
tances from, each other, wdiich said me. -frame, togetlier vvith each other, and with 
tallic chains may be drawn tight by me- the chains before described^' 
•iianical means, or, otherwise, they may 
PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC SOCIETIES. 
FRENCH AGRICULTURAL 
SOCIETIES. 
EPLY to the seventeen questions 
proposed by the society of the de¬ 
partment of the Seine, by M. Paris, 
sub prefect of Taraseqn, containing an 
account of the present state of the agri¬ 
culture of the department des Bouches-du- 
B/tone. 
1. Farming Buildings .—Rural archi¬ 
tecture has made a great and a rapid 
progress, more especially with respect 
to human habitations; the augmented 
number of these, during the space of 
only half a century, may amount to 
about one fifth of the general total. 
2. Agricultural Instruments.-—The 
plough commonly termed ‘‘ la charrue a 
versoir sans avant-train,’' and by the 
peasants denominated coutriery which is 
drawn by a couple of animals, was intro¬ 
duced about thirty.five.years since, and 
has been generally used from ten to 
twelve. One day^s labour with this is 
equal to two with the plough called 
tiJ'airc.^ which was formerly in use. Tlie 
itistrument described as “ la grande 
cliarrue a avant-train,” has only been in 
use during the last twenty.five years, it 
is drawn sometimes with six and some¬ 
times with eight mules. A plough has 
been lately executed for working, with¬ 
out turning, the salt lands of Carnargue, 
and jhe plain of Bourg. 
b. Enclusures and Improvements .—The 
number of enclosures iias increased full 
one third within fifty years. The lands 
grubbed up, for the space of about 
twentyrfive years before the revolution, 
may have amounted to 1000 hectares; 
those put in a state of cultivation, posie- 
|;iof to the devolution, have been cal¬ 
culated at 2,300, which together form ft 
total of 3.300, one half being arable, 
4. Improvements in the mode of Tillage. 
—Tillage has been greatly improved by 
the introduction of superior kinds of 
ploughs; tlie more frequent use of the 
spade and the roller; as well as by an al¬ 
teration in regard to the size of the mat¬ 
tock. . 
5. Rotation of Crops.—The absurdity 
of the system of fallows is now every 
yvhere recognized. Wheat is alternated 
with lucern, vetches, and legumes of all 
kinds. The oil harvest is now attended 
with precautions that render this liquid 
far superior to vvhat it was in former 
times; and, in consequence of some for¬ 
tunate improvements in the art of expres¬ 
sing it, a much larger quantity, thap here¬ 
tofore, is extracted. The cleaning and ' 
grinding of grain have also been effected 
jn a superior manner. 
6. ' The Melioration of the Races of do., 
mestic Aninuds. —The common breed of 
horses has been increased in point of 
number rather than of quality. The 
depot of stafli(»ns, formed by order of the 
government at Arles, affords hopes of an ■ 
approaching improvement. The num¬ 
ber of wool-bearing animals has dimi¬ 
nished, in consequence of the rigorous 
winters of 1788, and the year 4; but 
they are now equal to what they were at 
the former of these periods; but esti¬ 
mated at,400,000 head, of which there 
are 5000 merinos. The fattening of 
sucking lambs has beemne more com¬ 
mon than forn^^rly. Veterinary know¬ 
ledge has also been in some small (^g- 
gree extended, 
7. Silk-Worms and Recs.-r-The rear¬ 
ing of silk worms is encreased, and , 
has been rendiered lyoreperfect. A kind 
of 
