Identifier: corncattleproduc00rich (find matches)
Title: The corn and cattle producing districts of France
Year: 1878 (1870s)
Authors: Richardson, George Gibson, 1816-1879
Subjects: Agriculture
Publisher: London New York : Cassell
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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rthe ordinary markets. Sheep. ^YiQ has always been a large sheep-feeding country, but, in common with the rest of France, there is aconsiderable reduction. In 1857 the number returnedfor Seine-et-Marne was 667,448; in 1862 it was704,277; in 1866 it was only 640,622; and in 1872it had fallen to 474,896, rising again in 1873 to581,910. The return of 1862 may be left out ofconsideration, for according to the best opinions itdeserves none. That of 1872 was no doubt largelyinfluenced by the Prussian invasion ; but the returns of1866 and 1873 both show a diminution, which hasprobably continued, as the returns of 1872, from de-partments not influenced by the invasion, also show adecline. The decrease can be accounted for by the fallin the value of wool from the merinos, since the greatincrease in the supply from Australia; and there maybe a recovery, as meat has risen in price; or if not arecovery in number, there will be more meat from thesame quantity of sheep, the cross of Leicesters with
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ILE DE FRANCE AND BRIE. 415 merinos finding favour on tlie ricli lands in Brie. A sheep.very large portion of tlie sheep produce, however, iswholly independent of the sort, as so many farmers onlybuy sheep to put up to fat for a short time during thepulping season. They find at the fairs a supply ofsheep from all quarters—small Berrichons from thecentre; merinos, pure and crossed, from Champagne;little forest sheep from the Ardennes; Barbary breedsfrom Provence and Algiers; German sheep from overthe Ehine; and they take whatever they consider comescheapest, there being as good a probability of profitfrom a small light animal costing only a trifle as fromone of much better frame, but which would involve alarger outlay for first cost. Upon the whole, it mustnot be forgotten that the weight has increased in allthese breeds, and a sheep now means much more meatthan a sheep did twenty years ago. Seine-et-Oise is the French nursery of the merino,that breed of sheep which has spread over t

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