The Express.
London, England, 1865-06-21 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL MEETING If PRANCE.

The agricultural meeting for the department of
the Seine-et-Oise hag jut been held at Honda's, sad proved
one of the most brilliant that has taken place for many
y 5 past. The number of persons present was not less
than 15,000. The show of animals was Lugs, and was par-
ticularly noted for a number of Norman and Swiss cows,
heifers, &c. The mares and foals formed one of the most
interesting portions of the exhibitioa, and bore witneee to the
Care bestowed on the breeding of horses in the department. The
Houdan breed of fowls, for which the district is celebrated,
was also much admired. Ploughing matches and trotting
races also took place. At the distribution of prizes, M. A.
Darblay, the deputy-president of the aucciation, occupied
the chair, and among the distinguished persons present were
hi. Baroche, minister of justice, and Count de Saint-Mar-
malt, prefect of the department. hi. Darblay opened the
proceedings with an address, in which, after referring
to the previous meetings of the society, he
touched on the situation of agriculture at the present
moment. "The rich crops before us," be said, "re-
mind us that agriculture is suffering from the low price of
almost all its products, in consequence of two abundant
harvests not only in France but in the neighbouring nations.
It is not, however, in the diminution of the production
that a remedy is to be sought for, but in an increased yield
on the same extent of lard. The government most, how-
ever, afford usisteince. The average produce of wheat per
hectare (24 acres) is in France from fifteen to sixteen becto-
tolitres (24 barbels each), while in England the yield is
nearly double. The reason is not that the soil of England is
fisher, but that England not only feeds a larger number of
head of cattle in proportion to the extent of her territory,
but the farmers there employ twenty times more foreign
manure. The government ought therefore to abolish the
differential duty on guano imported in the vessels of other
countries, and even offer a prendum. The soppreesion of
canal and river dues would also diminish the cost of car-
ries in France. There was reason to regret that the
committee on the budget should have rejected the bill for
abolishing the duty on brandy used in improving the quality
of wines (vinage), as such a measure would encourage the
cultivation of beet-root, by the planting of which in the
rotation of crop the land is so greatly enriched. The soil
is the most productive of all undertakings in Freers, and
yet the example of England proves that the yield may be
largely increased. (Loud &plum.) The government ought to
encourage agricultural exertions by according honorary recom-
penses, of which it shows somewhat too great • pani.
mony with respect to that branch of enterprise. Every
year, in each department, let the farmer the most &son-
the, designated by hie fellowegrioulturalists, receive the
Cross from the Emperor, and the wonderful effects of such
• course would soon be observed. The emulation would be
impieties, and the State would not have to lay out anything
in the shape of money. Far from expending, the State
would gain enormously, es the production would be in-
creased in every district." (Renewed applause. )
The proceedings were terminated by a banquet under an
surname tent. Mole than 700 peewee eat down, among
them being the Minister and the Prefect, the President and
the committee of the Assuciatioc, with the farmers and
their wives and children. M. Darblay proposed the health
of the Emperor, asecciating with his name the
Empress and the Prises Imperial. The toast wee
'Cubed with repeated cheers. This was followed
try a toast "To Agriculture," by M. Buoche,
who, in a speech which was frequently inter.
'opted by applause, referred to the reforms which have
taken place in the legislation by which agriculture bas been
usefully intlateced during the last few yeas. The rigime
of free trade, he said, has not canoed the fell in the price of
corn, as the customs returns show that the exports of that
article were four times the value of the imports, while the
ihkilisties of beetroot, the manufacture of agar and