the Austro-Hungarian Empire. 311 



parts it is exceetlingly liglit, and all of it is underlain by water- 

 worn gravel. Marsh and waste land also occupy much space 

 around Nad-Meg-yer. 



From Altenburg, where there is much good land, towards 

 CEdenburg, the soil gradually becomes worse, until at last it 

 ceases to be cultivated, and finally becomes low and marshy as 

 the road approaches the flat districts of the Neuseidler See. 

 Past Esterhaz the land gradually improves until Zinkendorf 

 is reached. Here the country is beautiful, rich, and undulating, 

 and a fine view is obtained over the plains. From Zinkendorf 

 (Giesing Station) to Steinamanger there is, first, good land bearing 

 good crops, then various, sometimes clay and sometimes light 

 land, and finally a tract of very first-rate black deep soil is entered 

 upon. There is here a fine view of the Gratz and Simmering 

 mountains upon the right. 



From Steinamanger to Kanisa the railroad ascends, and the 

 country becomes beautiful. From Kanisa to Kesztheyli, on the 

 Pesth line, the country is hilly and woody, but somewhat deso- 

 late, and not well cultivated. After leaving Steinamanger the 

 country improves in scenery, and declines in cultivation. Corn- 

 fields, often scandalously foul, are surrounded by natural forest ; 

 and often the stumps of trees are still to be seen scattered over 

 the arable land. From Kanisa the land gradually becomes 

 flatter and of better quality towards Fiinfkirchen, where both 

 crops and cultivation are exceedingly poor. After Fiinfkirchen, 

 towards Villany, bad agriculture upon good land is the rule. 

 From the railway stations of Monostor and Tarda I noticed good 

 land, which rests upon a high table-land. Here I visited Mr. 

 Elvers, and subsequently descended by a terribly shaky road, 

 through vineyards, down to the plain of the Alfold, where the 

 celebrated Hungarian tiefland becomes the rule. This I crossed 

 to the Archduke's estate Bellye, and here I observed that the 

 splendid soil composing this tract is a few feet higher than a 

 very poor soil which lies in close proximity. The estate was, as 

 usual, surrounded by trees, and was beautifully cultivated. On 

 leaving it and entering the peasant land the scene was most 

 desolate. 



A long drive to Essegg took us through a lovely country skirt- 

 ing the Danube on to the pass of the Mohacs, from which we 

 descended into a singularly wild country, described under the 

 head of pasture land (page 353). This district, although wild 

 in the extreme, only requires capital and industry to develop it 

 into a wonderful tract of agricultural land. 



From Essegg, via the Grosswardein-Essegg Railway, I passed 

 through a large extent of flooded land, and crossed the Danube 

 in a boat, which carried the entire train. Between Gombos and 

 Szonta is a splendid tract of land, hut it was sad to see the crops 



