VII. Weights and Measures.
(In use since 1799.)
The English values of the French weights and measures are
given approximately.
Millier = 1000 kilogrammes = 19 cwt. 2 qrs. 22 lbs. 6 oz.
Kilogramme, unit of weight, = 2⅕ lbs avoirdupois =
2 7/10 lbs troy.
Quintal = 10 myriagrammes = 100 kilogrammes = 230 lbs.
Hectogramme (1/10 kilogramme) = 10 décagrammes = 100 gr.
= 1000 décigrammes.
Myriamètre = 10,000 mètres = 6⅕ Engl. miles.
Kilomètre = 1000 mètres = 5 furlongs.
Hectomètre = 10 décamètres = 100 mètres.
Mètre, the unit of length, the ten-millionth part of the spherical
distance from the equator to the pole = 3,0784
(about 3 1/13 Paris feet = 1 yd. 3⅓ in.
Décimètre (1/10 mètre) = 10 centimètres = 100 millimètres.
Hectare (square hectomètre) = 100 ares = 10,000 sq. mètres
2½ acres.
Are (square décamètre) = 100 sq. mètres.
Déciare = 1/10 are = 10 sq. mètres.
Centiare = 1/100 are = 1 sq. mètre.
Hectolitre = 1/10 cube mètre = 100 litres = 22 gallons.
Décalitre = 1/100 cube mètre = 10 litres = 2⅕ gals.
Litre, unit of capacity, = 1¾ pint; 8 litres = 7 quarts.
The following terms of the old system of measurements are
still occasionally employed:
Livre = ½ kilogramme = 1 1/10 lb.
Pied = ⅓ mètre = 13 in.
Aune = 1⅕ mètre = 1 yd. 11 in.
Toise = 1 9/10 mètre = 2 yds. 4 in.
Lieue = 2½ miles.
Arpent = 1 1/25 acre.
Setier = 1½ hectolitre = 33 gals.
The thermometers commonly used in France are the Centigrade
and Réaumur's. The freezing point on both of these is
marked 0°, the boiling-point of the former 100°, of the latter 80°.
It may easily be remembered that 5° Centigrade = 4° Réaumur
= 9° Fahrenheit. In converting degrees of the Centigrade or
Réaumur into degrees of Fahrenheit, 32° must be added to the
result for temperatures above freezing; for lower temperatures the
result must be subtracted from 32°.
