The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-10-09
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breed merlnos. England, on the contra
ry, long ago abandoned the propagation
of the Spanish breeds, ta
The celebrated Leicestershire sheep,
introduced into England by Mr.. Bake
well, owed its deserved popularity in
the first place TO its precoeity of growth,
and second in the weight Of mutton. The
Southdowns have been improved by the
same process, during seventy or eighty
years Of skilliul treatment, and they have a
arrived at sheep which at two years old
gives an average Of eighty 10 hundred
pounds for market. ...,..I 81.
france shows different system of
farming, which suffers materially in com.
parison with her neighbor. The north
or northwest part has n soil which far
surpasses in depth and richness an equal
amount Of territory in England, and
climate as much superior. Scarcely any
mountains, few natural marshes, extensive
plains, tillabe almost throughout, soil
favorable to production, rich deposits in
the valleys Of her principal rivers, with
their tributaries, climate not so moist,
but warmer, less favorable for pasturage,
but more suitable for ripening wheat and
other grains-all the productions of Eng
land obtained with less trouble. This is
the granary of France. The southern
portion is devoted to the growing of wool,
fruits, the vine, sugar-beet, the oli'e and
mulberry. The vine covers not less than
five millions of acres, producing at least
twenty dollars TO the acre. Two and q
half millions of acres are devoted to gar
dens aud orchards, from which fruit, veg
etables and flowers are obtained in abun-
dance The natural genius of the French
aims at quality in Variety;; while the
English seek quantity in uniformity.
Hence you see the finest specimens and
varieties of fruits in the world propagated
and produced in France, and the greatest
quantities of beet, mutton, potatoes, and
the substantials in England. She devotes
her energies and resources in the produc-
ton Of these articles, applying all the
improved methods of cultivation in the
raising of bread and propagatiug the
breeds which produce the greatest number
of nett pounds, each, of beef and mutton.
: The practical attention of the English
to their soil, climate, and crops, has abun-
dainty repaid them in the additional guam
titles raised, and shows their superior
knowledge in farming to their neghbors.
The average production Of wheat, per acre,
,, in France, is about twelve bushels; in
England it is twenty-eight. This supe-
riority is not TO be attributed--as in the
,, case of the natural and artiii cial mead
ows and roots, and to certain extent to
oats and barley--to the soil and climate,
but to superior cultivation, which shows
: itself chiefly in limiting the wheat crop 10
$ the extent Of land rendered fit for cuti-
J. vation. They admit the north of France
r has better soil and climate than Eng
! land, but boast of understanding tho
! adaptiveness of their climate, while France
5 in this respect is in its infancy.
= The object of all agriculture is TO pro-
e duce the greatest possible quantity of hui
] man food, upon given portion of tho
r earth's surface--no matter how this object
S may be attained, whether directly by the
r cultivation of products, edible by man, or
r indirectly by the cultivation of other arti-
r cles, which subsequently increase the
+ quantity Of human food. The agricutu-
= raj wealth of country is the first test
n of its resources, of the condition of the
# people, and of the state of property
II Therefore, TO the existence and power of
S the French people, the blight on an ear Of
: corn, or the mildew on bunch of grapes,
o or even the partial neglect of the great
i natural resources of their soil, is of more
" consequence than the splendor Of tho inn
;. perial Jewels or the marvels of thousand
5. Monsieur Bergers. The stability of tho
d political institutions of the country may
IF be more powerfully affected by an insect,
n iu blade of wheat, than by all the mag
l. nifcence which surrounds the throne.
Is Louis Napoleon is well aware of this, and
@ shows his wisdom in encouraging the pur-
e suits of agriculture by his imperial ex-
y ample.
t; have introduced England and France
o MS an illustration, because we have a
70 counterpart in our county, in the diversi-
}; ty of soil and adaptiveness 10 the differ
J.; ent productions OF those countries That
d portion of our county bordering upon
n Lake Michigan is well adapted to the cul-
'r tivation of the vine and tho growing OF
r. fruits--particularly the pear and peach.
I, 1t is doubtful whether a superior location
s. can be found in the Northern States. Ii
% is no longer matter of theory or doubt
= for the evidence of success is before us
,f How far in direct line from Lake Mich
g gan, east, in this county, it will be safe
a to embark in the cultivation Of the peach,
le | am not now able to say. | know oI
'r no record of temperature in the county
IN old enough TO be of any service except
re the one at Mill Point. | will venture
el the opinion, however, that the peach can
r. be cultivated successfully in this county
n where the thermometer does not indicate
,e over fifteen degrees below zero. This is
"a NOT the proper place for dissertation on