It lasts for ever.
In 1765, it was so cold, that the Rhone was frozen over at Aries for two
months. In 1767, there was a cold spell of a week, which killed all the
olive trees. From being fine weather, in one hour there was ice hard
enough to bear a horse. It killed people on the road. The old roots of
the olive trees put out again. Olive grounds sell for twenty-four livres
a tree, and lease at twenty-four sous the tree. The trees are fifteen
pieds apart. But lucerne is a more profitable culture. An arpent yields
one hundred quintals of hay a year, worth three livres the quintal.
It is cut four or five times a year. It is sowed in the broadcast, and
lasts five or six years. An arpent of ground for corn rents at from
thirty to thirty-six livres. Their leases are for six or nine years.
They plant willow for fire-wood, and for hoops to their casks. It
seldom rains here in summer. There are some chateaux, many separate
farm-houses, good, and ornamented in the small way, so as to show
that the tenant's whole time is not occupied in procuring physical
necessaries.
March 25. _Orgon.
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