New-York tribune., 1902-05-26
FRANCE AND OUR PROJECTS.
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS
DEMANDED IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TIONS SHOULD BE STUDIED.

Washington. Nav 25 (SpeciaD.-The American
trade invasion of France constitutes significant
and important chapter OF the volume of CONNER
cial Relations now in the press under the direction
of the Bureau of Foreign Commerce OF the State
Department In their latest annual reports to be
included in that publication nearly all the con-
sular officials stationed in the French Republic
speak Of the gratifying increase in the importation
of agricultural machinery from the United States.
Consul Thackara. of Havre. says that numbers
of our mowers. reapers and binders arrive weekly
at that port by the steamers of the French Line.
Along the Loire River farming machines are
in use everywhere. and the who use them say
that in every instance they do their work well, are
much more economical than the old fashioned
harvesting methods, and that the investment is
good for the owner
Agricultural implements bearing American
name are found at every county fair, says Consul
Covert. of Lyons, and highly priced. Represen-
tatives of mower and reaper and of steam engine
firms in the United States have recently estab-
lished a good business In that region. The impor-
tation of our rakes ploughs harrows, drills. and,
in fact. nearly all farm implements. adds CONNER
cial Agent Griffin. of Limoges. is growing trade.
Our manufacturers nevertheless, would meet with
even greater success if they made attempt 10
study the conditions of the French trade, or TO
adapt their machines to French requirements.
Grain and hay are cut differently In France, and
the stubble is much shorter and the hay of finer
quality than in America. Another fact TO be borne
In mind is that oxen and cows generally used
on farms, instead of mules and horses cOilSe-
quently the gearing of the machines must be
adapted TO the slow pace OF these animals
Consul TOurgee. of Bordeaux. notes that although
there Is also in that region a steady enlargement
in the number of implements of American make I'M
ported. II is almost impossible to get the ordinary
French aborer to operate them with that skill
and efficiency which almost instructive with the
American farmer. This is In great measure due
20 the fact that every American lahorer Is TO
pronounced degree. mechanic as well as a farm
han holt hraa al,s or "a hunts
about in his tool box workroom for something
To take it's place and In short time his team Is,
I'm most cases doing its work again Not so with
the French laborer He has neither the skill nor
the desire 10 mend the tool he uses or even TO
keep IL In reasonable repair. That is the business
of other tradesmen-the blacksmith. the cartwright
the mechancIan. the painter. The French work
has interest in labor saving devices -.
In the park opposite the consulate. continues MT.
Toureee. men are at Work All summer lons c'Pp,ihs i
the luNurant herbage. What are the lIlpie-
ments they use? Lawn mowers? Not at all. They
VIZ Nine at nrd nte a.. ba{,g po'nded 70 an edge on
OF a tree. with short branch cut at convenient
, @stn op @me IL Trcsstbv mpced To- look il over
for the trademark of "Tubal Cain GO. Ihere
proved impiements one American workman will
this fact that American prodHcers can IuGn , 0ut
work al less price than their Frehch competitors
ATrGam orooS od ,hei1 b appearance in Bordeaux
seem familiar. our shoe machinery Is used IN
the largest shoe factory In France (situated IN
IImoges). and s25O.O00 worth Of American dressed
kid skins imported into that region in 1870
for the manufacture Of shoes. There Is demand
France. SAYS Mr. ThaCkara. for American oil
burning for heating purposes care must
be taken by manufacturers not 10 attach any
marks on stoves intended for use in France which
might indicate that they were made there, as this
is a violation OF the French trademark law our
low priced watches which have an enviahle reputa-
tiOn for excellence, ar" copied outright, ana the
limitations sold as American watches some means
should h. devised overcome this competition
The expectation OF fruits from Marseilles TO the
United States Consul General Skinner. has
been seriously affected OF late by the increasing
attention given to these products In California. In
ono OF the smaller cities MarSeillcs. where
tho business Is centralized. factories have been
closed and other cities md their trade decreas-
ing Pruues. formerly shipped to New York, are
imported from California during bad crop
Consul Covert mentions. among the other articles
from the United States that are sold In Lyons.
registers fountain pens. pencils. sausage
grinders Ice cream freeZers. fans egg heaters
stoves saws drills. planes lathes. time recorders.
electric fans roller desks. revolving chairs.
etc American manufactures Of all sorts are highly
prlzed Stores have signs announcing American
fabrics. and there are several so-called American
bazaars." though many OF the articles are not or
American manufacture.