90 HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. Part I. 



immediately made free, and the example followed by several wealthy proprietors. 

 Acts were passed for uniting and consolidating landed property by equitable exchanges ; 

 and for preventing the right of freeway : both which led to enclosures, draining, and ir- 

 rigation. There are now better meadows, and more hedges and walls in Denmark than 

 in any country of Germany of the same extent. Various institutions for instruction and 

 reward were formed, and among others, in 1686, the first veterinary school founded in 

 Germany. Artificial grasses and herbage plants enter into most rotations, and rye-grass 

 is perhaps more sown in Holstein than any where, excepting in England. In a word, 

 considering the disadvantages of climate, the agriculture of Denmark is in a more ad- 

 vanced state than that of any other kingdom of Germany. 



559. The Danish farm-houses are described by Dr. Neale, in 1805, as " generally built upon the same plan, 

 having externally the appearance of large barns, with folding doors at each end, and of sufficient size to 

 admit loaded waggons ; on one hand are the apartments occupied by the farmer and his family ; on the 

 other, the stable, cow-house, dairy, and piggery ; in the centre, a large space, set apart for the waggons, 

 ploughs, harrows, and other implements of husbandry; and over head, the granary and hay.loft." As 

 the postmasters are generally farmers, it is customary to drive in at one end ; change horses, and then 

 drive out at the other, which is the case in the north of Germany and in Poland, and more or less so 

 in every part of the north of Europe. 



550. Of the farmer's familyy the same accomplished traveller observes, " we were often agreeably 

 surprised at finding the living apartments furnished with a degree of comfort and neatness bordering 

 upon luxury ; every article was substantially good in itself, and was preserved in the greatest order and 

 cleanliness. Thus, white muslin curtains, with fringes and draperies, covered the windows; looking 

 glasses and chests of drawers were placed around ; excellent large feather beds, and a profusion of the 

 best well bleached linen displayed the industry of the good housewives, while their dinner tables were 

 equally well supplied with damask cloths, and snowy white napkins ; and near the doors of the dairies 

 were ranged quantities of large, singularly shaped, brass and copper vessels, bright as mirrors. 



561. The dimensions of some of their buildings, he says, 

 is surprising ; one measured 110 yards long, resembling in 

 extent the area of Westminster Hall. On the tops 

 of their roofs are generally displayed a set of antlers, 

 and a weathercock ; on others, two horses' heads 

 are carved out in wood, and announce the rank of the^ 

 inhabitants ; the antlers, or rather bulls' horns, denot- 

 ing the house of a tenant ; and the horses' heads, that 

 of a landed proprietor. This form of building {fig. 70.)^ 

 seems to have been adopted from the earliest ages^ 

 amongst the inhabitants of Northern Germany," as 

 similar ones are described by Joannes Lasicius in the 

 middle of the sixteenth century, {Travels through Germany^ Poland, &c. 13.) ' 



562. The rural economy/ of Greenland and Iceland has been given, the former by 

 Crantz, and the latter by Sir G. Mackenzie. Only a small part of Greenland produces 

 pasture, and a still smaller part grain. The culture of the last, however, is now given 

 up. Cabbages and turnips grow well in the gardens, and there are some oak trees, 

 brambles, and junipers between the 60-* and 65^^ N. lat. Sir G. Mackenzie thinks 

 potatoes and barley might succeed in some places. There are considerable pasture 

 farms, a good and hardy breed of horses, and herds and flocks of cattle and sheep. 

 Farmers have no leases, but pay rent in kind, and cannot be removed from the land 

 unless it can be proved that they have neglected its culture : that is, they hold on the meyer 

 system. The stock of cattle and sheep are considered as belonging to the soil of the 

 landlord. A tenant may quit his farm whenever he chooses, but must leave the proper 

 amount of stock to be taken by his successor. 



SuBSECT. 3. Agriculture of the Kingdom of Prussia. 



, 563. The agriculture of Prussia was considerably advanced by its second king, 

 Frederick William, who is said to have imported 16,000 men from Saltzburg, and ex- 

 pended 25 millions of francs in building villages and distributing lands among them. 

 His successor, Frederick the Great, after having conquered a peace, made exertions in 

 agriculture as extraordinary as in war and architecture. He drained and brought into 

 cultivation the borders of the lakes of the Netz and the Wasta, and established 3500 

 families on what was before a marsh. He drained the marsh of Fridburg, and established 

 on it 400 families. He made extensive drainages, enclosures, and other improvements 

 in the mark Brandenburg, and in Pomerania, and built the extensive embankments of 

 Dallast, in Friesland, by which, by degrees, a large tract of land was recovered, which 

 the sea submerged in 1724. He formed a council of woods and waters for managing 

 the national forests, and regulating rivers and lakes. He established the Royal Economical 

 Society of Potsdam, and other societies, and cultivated a farm. He created a market for 

 agricultural produce, by the establishment of manufactures ; and, in short, he left 

 nothing unattempted that might benefit his kingdom. 



564. Tlie successors of the great Frederick have not distinguished themselves as en- 

 couragers of agriculture, with the exception of the present king Frederick William I. 

 who about fifteen years ago established the agricultural institution of Moegelin on the 

 Oder, conducted by Von Thaer, justly celebrated in Germany as an agricultural 

 writer. This institution was visited by Jacob in 181"9; and from his work we shall 

 give a short account of it. 



