Louis-François-Henri de Menon, Marquis de Turbilly (Fontenailles, 1717 – Paris, 25 February 1776) was a French agronomist, who wrote Mémoire sur les défrichements in 1760 Biography Louis-François-Henri de Menon was born in a distinguished family from Anjou, which had acquired an estate in the province of Anjou by marriage in the 14th century. De Menon took his studies at the college of the Jesuits of La Flèche. Military career After his studies he entered the regiment of Normandy in 1733. During the War of the Polish Succession, he distinguished himself at the Siege of Philippsburg in 1734. Made captain in 1737, he was assigned to cavalry regiment from Roussillon in 1740. After the death of his father in 1737, he became landowner of a considerable estate, where he began making great improvement by rationalising the work. In the War of 1741 recalled to his regiment, leaving his estate in the hands of a capable manager. During the War of the Austrian Succession, de Menon fought in Bohemia, in Westphalia, and eventually integrated into the Regiment of Saxony. He received the Order of Saint Louis before attending the sieges of Antwerp and Brussels, and the Battle of Rocoux. Seriously wounded in the Battle of Lauffeld in 1747, he had to leave the army. Agriculture Louis-François-Henri de Menon retired to his estates in the South of Mayenne, in the province of Anjou, in the commune of Villiers-Charlemagne. He is known for his dissertation on the deforestation. Of the inherited estate, an area located in Baugé about 1000 hectares, in 1737 most of which was still uncultivated. He improves the land by clearing (removal of forest), and adding drainage, turing it into a model estate. He cleared the heather, that covered most of the land around the town of Villiers, and created pathways to make the land more productive. Forty years later his territory had become one of the richest in the province. He became friend and adviser to the minister Bertin. He inspired a circular initiated 22 August 1760, in which people were invited to create Agricultural societies. He also influenced the decision of the French Parlement of 16 April 1761 in favour of deforestation. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society, 22 April 1762 under the name Francois-Henri, Marquis de Turbilly. He initiated two awards for the best and most beautiful wheat and rye harvested in the commune. The awards