44 AGRICULTURE IN MODERN EUROPE. 



erinary science. Slie has made herself rich and great by the 

 persistent development, side by side, of all the- branches of 

 agriculture and manufactures. 



The rapidity with which France has recovered from the effects 

 of the late war, is due to the prosperity and hoarded wealth of 

 the small land-holders, whose savings were laid upon the altar 

 of patriotism ; a good augury, we feel, for the ultimate success 

 of the republic. 



It is in Holland, that country &quot; redeemed by weeds from the 

 dominion of the sea,&quot; that we find the laborer and the land en 

 joying the highest prosperity. There is no waste land in the 

 Low countries, and no waste of human power. Recreation with 

 this frugal people is not so much rest as a change of occupation; 

 and while neither art nor any higher culture is neglected, there 

 is no subordination of the useful to these ends. 



Deep tillage is the characteristic of husbandry in the Low 

 countries, and the most perfect adjustment of the system of 

 rotation to the special conditions of the soil. &quot;No manure, no 

 coin; no coin, no commerce,&quot; has been on the lips of the Flem 

 ing for generations. The following table shows the diversity 

 of products which would be obtained from one thousand acres : 



Cereals and farm crops 387.34 



Alimentary roots t 50. G6 



Manufacturing plants . . . 25.22 



Legumes, pears, beans, vetches, etc. 26.38 



Fodder plants 59 83 



Prairie land 139 19 



Fallow 31.08 



Gardens 1917 



Wood 186.58 



Waste (at rest or periodically cultivated) 124.55 



Total 



1,000.00 



A great deal of machinery is used by the large farm ers. Tanks 

 for the collection of night soil are seen along the roadsides; 

 parings of turf and animal droppings are carefully gathered and 

 composted. Liquid manure is preferred on account of its free 

 dom from weeds. An hectare is frequently treated with 50-100 

 hectolitres, especially for tobacco. We cannot wonder at the 

 enormous crops which are obtained. Dung pits are made for 

 the excrements of cattle. Ammoniacal fertilizers are so per 

 fectly saved that the stables are fresh and sweet as a Flemish 



