France; for where there is no
consumption of these articles, it is impossible that a proper rotation
of crops can be introduced.

In noticing the causes of the decided improvement in the condition of
the peasantry, we may observe in passing, that the great consumption of
human life, during the revolution, and more particularly under
Napoleon's conscription, must have considerably bettered the condition
of those who remained, and who were able for work, by increasing the
price of labour.

The industry of the peasants in every part of the country, cannot be
sufficiently praised--it as remarkable as the apathy and idleness of
tradesmen and artificers. Every corner of soil is by them turned to
account, and where they have gardens, they are kept very neat. The
defects in the cultivation arise, therefore, from the goodness of the
climate, the ignorance or poverty of the cultivators, or from inveterate
prejudice.

We must now say a few words with regard to the state of agriculture and
the condition of the peasantry between Paris and Aix, and more
especially in the south of France. Here also every acre of land is
turned to good account, but the method of tilling the land is very
defective. The improvements in agriculture, in modern times, will be
found to owe their origin to men of capital, of education, and of
liberal ideas, and such men are not to be found here. The prejudices and
the poverty of their ancestors, have not ceased to have their effects in
the present generation, in retarding the improvement in the tillage, and
in the farm instruments. They are, in this respect, at least a century
behind us. From the small subdivisions in many parts of the country,
each family is enabled to till its own little portion with the spade;
and where the divisions are larger, and ploughs used, they will
invariably be found rude, clumsy, enormous masses of wood and iron, weak
from the unskilfulness of the workmanship, continuing from father to son
without improvement, because improvement would not only injure their
purses, but give a deadly wound to that respect and veneration which
they have for the good old ways of their ancestors. There is endless
variety in the shape and size of the French plough; but amid the
innumerable kinds of them, we never had the good fortune to meet one
good or sufficient instrument.

The use of machinery in the farm-stead is unknown, and grain, as of old,
is very generally trodden by oxen, sometimes on