26 AGRICULTURE. 



X. Under the common name of Germany we in- 

 clude Prussia, Saxony, Austria, Wurtemburg, and 

 Bavaria, and shall say a few w'ords of each calcu- 

 lated to give a general idea of their husbandry. It 

 was not to be expected that the great Frederic of 

 Prussia (so devoted to national glory and strength) 

 would disregard the interests of agriculture ; and 

 the less so, as in theory he considered it " Les ma- 

 melles de Vital" the paps of the state. We accord- 

 ingly find him employed in draining marshes of 

 great extent,* in filling them with industrious colo- 

 nists, and in converting barren sands into fertile 

 fields, by placing his capital in the midst of them. 

 But, among these good works, he forgot that the 

 hands of the labourer, to be efficient, must be free ; he 

 found the peasants slaves, and left them such. 



The Saxon peasant, on the other hand, is free, 

 and protected by the laws ; he holds his farm on 

 lease, which he sells or transmits to his children at 

 will : and this is the principal cause of the flourish- 

 ing state of Saxon agriculture. In Lusatia, a differ- 

 ent legislation produces different effects ; but, for 

 some years past, the government and great proprie- 

 tors have concurred in changing the vassalage of the 

 peasants into a mild and salutary dependance. Sax- 

 ony is remarkable for its grain products, and Lusa- 

 tia for its stock ; the latter counts four hundred 

 thousand head of sheep of the Merino race. 



Geographers give to Austria and her dependan- 

 cies 1065 leagues in circumference. In a surface 

 of this extent there is necessarily a great variety, 

 as well of climate as of soil ; but, in general, both 



penhagen, and did not at any lime see sufficient snow on the 

 ground to make good sleighing. Much of the soil of Denmark 

 is highly productive in wheat, rye, pasturage, &c. She has 

 few manufactures, or mines, or forests, and, since her separation 

 from Norway, no extensive fisheries. 



* In the Dollnrt, what was lost by the sea was regained, and 

 the marshes on the Netz and the Worth, at Friedb'ers and in 

 Pnmerania, were drained, and the country rendered habitable. 



