The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1881-04-23
OUR PARIS LETTER.
PARIs. April II, 1881.
correspondence of Gazette

Correspondence of Gazette
The food supply OF such city as
Paris with Its Two millions OF per-
manent inhabitants and its 100000
floating population, Is a serious
The harmony of supply and
demand is maintained at a great
cost, though, perhaps less than
would be supposed by any one who
bases estimates on the cost for cits
les of proportionate size in our own
cnuntry. Ai's' p 7'.t 'r94i . #'a
The annual duties levied on food
articles seeking market in Paris,
amount to over ten millions of dol
lars. This secures a better quality
of supplies, though it enhances the
cost correspondingly. Wholesale
prices average at least one third
higher for the same class of ar
ticles than in Wilmington. While
the labor employed in their produc-
ton is less by one third than with
us. The inference follows that
farming is profitable in France
AS practiced here it is perhaps as
profitable as any other business con-
Quoted with the same skill and cost.
But the land is chiefly owned by
others than those who reside upon
it and cultivate it. Beside, by rea-
son of constant cultivation through
long succession of years the soil is
enfeebled, and requires stimulating
at great expense i'll order to maiu-
tam Its fertility. The rents and
taxes are high, and the fertilizers
expensive, all of which must be paid
for by the tenant before he can lay
by sou, or indulge in what we
should consider essential comforts.
Happily the French farmer has a
different standard from ours in the
matter of material comforts, and in
this lies the secret of his success
HIS simple, abstemious habits and
the economy, which the practice of
generations has made part of his
nature makes the French one of
the most thrifty and independent
nations.
We're the soil of France swept away
in moment and substituted by the
rich, new soil Of our West, and treated
by the French farmer precisely as he
treats his native worn-out soil, France,
in single decade, would be the one
Land flowing with milk and honey"
and the French the richest nation in
the world.
Two thousand years ago Virgil, the
sweet singer of neighbouring state,
sang the songs Of Labor, and proclaim
cd 1T the strongest of forces. France
illustrates this truth to-day by the en-
ergy with which she has more than re-
paired the waste and havoc of her late
disasterous wars.
Recently, some of the trades of Paris
struck for a decrease of the hours OF
labor without a corresponding decrease
of pay. The discussion in the news
papers on the subject brought out the
statement that in the rural districts
from twelve to sixteen hours were
cheerfully given as days labor. With
these rural people economy goes hand
In hand with labor, and contentment
and prosperity keep equal peace.
Nothing on the farm is wasted that
will pay for the time given to save it.
The master considers it a waste to sell
or slaughter bullock for beef before
it is brought to perfection by careful
feeding. The matter is we'll considered
and settled in his mind as to the exact
point where further expenditure OF
food will make corresponding gain
in the weight and consequent value OF
ls h,r1in l1 -,
it is loss to continue feeding.
So with the mistress and her poultry
yard. Her profit is in her eggs and
spring chickens, and consequently the
parent hen is encouraged to lay all the
eggs possible without being required to
waste her time in Matching the eggs and
rearing the young brood. The batching
can be done better by artificial means,
and the chicks are raised by hand with
less percentage of loss than when the
hen manages the Job.
Bat the dairy is the most profitable
department OF the farm, especially when
within easy reach OF large city. A IL
cense is required to enable one to sell
milk in the city, and the city protects
the dealer or diaIyman in all his Just
IlBulst 81 llal lllClS ID ldlEiibSS GQudllJ
Tor buyer and seller. Milk is delivered
to customers as II is ordinarily served il
our own cities, though in limited quan
titles. II is sent from greater distance;
In sealed china ars containing ono and
two quarts each. 1t will keep. sweet q
week or even longer IN these jars, and
by simple process that was unable IL
learn, 1t will keep much longer time.
Two companies, with stock capital
of several hundred thousand francs, are
formed to send the cows into Paris ev-
cry morning, where the cows are milked
in presence of the customers. One ol
these drive the cows In from pastures In
the Bois de Bologne the other sends
them In the cars from greater distance,
Both plans are said TO work well, and
the stock is profitable and sells at a pre-
MUM. The milk is eagerly sought after
and commands much higher price than
that sold from the cans or even the Chi
na jar.