THE METRIC or FRENCH SYSTEM.
Reading edition
MEASURES OF LENGTH.
The MÈTRE, the unit of length, is the ten-millionth part of a line drawn from the Pole to the Equator.
1 Mètre =as above. 1 Décamètre = 10 mètres. 1 Hectomètre = 100 " 1 Kilomètre = 1000 " 1 Myriamètre = 10,000 " 1 Decimètre = 1⁄10th of a mètre. 1 Centimètre = 1⁄100th " 1 Millimètre = 1⁄1000th "
The Greek prefixes (deca, hecto, kilo, myria) denote multiplication. The Latin prefixes (deci, centi, milli) denote division.
SQUARE MEASURE.
The ARE, the unit of surface measure, is a square the side of which is ten mètres long.
1 Are = 100 Square mètres. 1 Decare = 10 ares. 1 Hectare = 100 " 1 Déciare = 1⁄10th of an are. 1 Centiare = 1⁄100th of an are, or, mètre carré (square mètre).
MEASURES OF WEIGHT.
The GRAMME, the unit of weight, is the weight of a cubic centimètre of distilled water at 4° Centigrade.
1 Gramme =as above. 1 Décagramme = 10 gram. 1 Hectogramme = 100" 1 Kilogramme, or kilo = 1000" 1 Myriagramme = 10,000" 1 Décigramme = 1⁄10th of a gram. 1 Centigramme = 1⁄100th" 1 Milligramme = 1⁄1000th"
½ kilogramme is called a livre.
MEASURES OF CAPACITY, DRY AND LIQUID.
The LITRE, the unit of the measures of capacity, dry and liquid, is the volume of a cubic decimètre.
1 Litre = as above. 1 Décalitre = 10 litres. 1 Hectolitre = 100" 1 Décilitre = 1⁄10th of a litre. 1 Centilitre = 1⁄100th" 1 Millilitre = 1⁄1000th"
MONEY.
1 Franc = 100 centimes. A franc = 5 grammes (4.5 silver, and .5 alloy). 1 Décime = 10 centimes. 1 Sou = 5"
FRENCH LINEAL MEASURES, &c. = BRITISH.
French British.
LINEAL.
Millimètre 0.0394 inch.
Centimètre 0.3937 "or less than half an inch.
Décimètre 3.937 inchesnearly 4 inches.
Mètre 39.3708 "about 3 feet 3 inches.
Hectomètre 0.0621 mile"1⁄16th of a mile.
Kilomètre 0.6214 "8 kilomètres = 5 miles.
SQUARE.
Centiare 1.196 square yardor 11⁄5th square yard.
Are 3.954 poles40½ ares = 1 acre.
Hectare 2.471 acresnearly 2½ acres.
BRITISH LINEAL MEASURES, &c. = FRENCH.
British. French.
LINEAL.
Inch 25.399 millimètres.
Foot 30.479 centimètres.
Yard 0.914 mètre.
Chain [22 yards] 20.116 mètres.
Furlong [10 chains] 201.164 "
Mile 1.609 kilomètre.5 miles = 8 kilomètres, nearly.
SQUARE.
Square Foot 9.29 square décimètres.
Acre 0.405 hectareor about 40 ares.
Square mile 2.599 square kilomètres.100 square miles = 260 sq. kilomètres.
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FRENCH WEIGHTS = BRITISH.
French British.
Décigramme 1.543 grainor about 1½ grains.
Gramme 15.432 grains.28⅓ grammes = 1 ounce avoirdupois.
Décagramme 0.353 ounce avoirdupoisabout ⅓ of an ounce avoirdupois.
Hectogramme 3.527 ouncesnearly ¼ pound.
Kilogramme or kilo 2.2046 pounds.In trade, a kilo is reckoned at 10 per cent. more than 2 pounds.
BRITISH WEIGHTS = FRENCH.
British. French.
Grain .0648 gramme.
Ounce (avoirdupois) 28⅓ grammes.
Pound" 454"
Pound (troy) 373 grammes.
Cwt (avoirdupois) 50.8 kilos.
Ton 1015"
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FRENCH LIQUID AND CORN MEASURES = BRITISH.
French British.
Litre 1.76 pint (imperial)or about 1¾ pints.
Hectolitre 22.01 gallons"22 gallons.
BRITISH LIQUID AND CORN MEASURES = FRENCH.
British. French.
Pint 0.568 litreor more than ½ litre.
Quart 1.136 "about 1⅛ litres.
Gallon 4.543 litres"4½ litres11 gallons.
Peck 9.087 ""9 litres.= 50 litres.
Bushel [8 gallons] 36.348 ""36⅓ litres.
Quarter [8 bushels] 2.908 hectolitres"3 hectolitres.
MONEY.
1 £. 25 francs 22 centimes, or about 25 francs.
1 s. 1 franc 26 centimes, "1¼ franc.
1 d. 10 centimes.
½ d. 5 centimes, or a 'sou.'
A franc is about 9½ d.100 francs = £4, nearly. A milliard of francs (1,000,000,000) = £40,000,000, nearly.