nearer the mark. In like manner the population of
Galatz has been set down until lately at 80,000, although an English
gentleman residing there maintained that it should be about 50,000. That
gentleman told us that according to a recent census there turned out to
be only 40,000, but he questioned that result also, inasmuch as the
people do not know the object of such a proceeding and fear to make
returns, and moreover the census was taken at a time when many labourers
and others had left the city for a season.]

[Footnote 52: Vice-Consul Bonham's report, 1877, p. 720.]

[Footnote 53: Ibid. p. 721.]

CHAPTER VI.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL--THE PEASANT PROPRIETARY OF ROUMANIA.

Cultivated acreage of Roumania--Comparative estimates of
agricultural products; waste lands, &c.--Nature of soil--Rotation
of crops--Agricultural implements--Old-fashioned ploughs--Improved
machinery--Yield of cereals--Maize, wheat, rye, barley, &c.--(Note:
Report of M. Jooris)--Uncertainty as to yield per
acre--Estimates--Quality and value of Roumanian cereals--Slovenly
cultivation--Cost of raising cereals--Uncertainty of
estimates--Present position of agriculture--Discouragement of
immigration--Competition of the United States--Cattle--Oxen and
buffaloes--Sheep--Wool--Cheese, butter, &c.--Capabilities of the
soil--Tobacco--Cotton--Agricultural education--The Agricultural and
Sylvicultural College of Ferestreu--M. Aurelian--The grounds and
buildings--External arrangements--Experimental growth of trees,
fruits, cereals, &c.--Number of professors and pupils--Internal
arrangements for board--Cost of education--Laboratory and excellent
collections--History of the plough illustrated by models--'Ecole
des Arts et Metiers'--Manufacture of farm requisites--School of
design--The peasantry--Their history--Varieties of tenure prior to
1864--Creation of a peasant proprietary by forced sales of
land--Success of the reform--Subsequent allotment of state
lands--The 'obligations rurales'--The dark side--Fate of
improvident peasants--Forced to sell their
labour--Quasi-servitude--The boyards or landed gentry--Improvidence
and involved condition of many--Pledged
estates--'Fermage'--Purchase of their lands by industrious peasants
and others--Decline of the boyards--Excellent qualities of the
peasantry--Great endurance--Ind