302 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



manual exercises varies with the season and in the various 

 cantons. During the summer about three half days a week 

 is the average time. There is also an occasional general muster, 

 when all turn out together and occupy a spacious parade 

 ground. Then the whole population of parents and friends, as 

 well as the cantonal authorities, turn out for a holiday, to 

 witness the nascent valor and heroism of the republic. 



It should be added that all these cantonal cadets wear a 

 simple and modest stripe for a uniform, and one or two bright 

 buttons, which cost almost nothing, but give the wearers a 

 soldierly pride and love for this branch of their studies. 



There is much in Switzerland to remind an American of New 

 England. The people are similar in many respects, — in their 

 industry, their thrift, and their love of liberty ; while the simi- 

 larity of the farming, of the crops and the climate, is quite 

 striking. The yield of apples in most parts of Switzerland was 

 very great, while the hills of some of the cantons were covered 

 with thriving vineyards. As I arranged to return here and to 

 cross the Alps again, with Mr. Fogg, I shall have occasion to 

 recur to this country again, on a subsequent page. 



We left Berne and its bears for Zurich, on the beautiful lake 

 of the same name, passing through an interesting and highly 

 cultivated section. A few hours was all we could devote to 

 Zurich at that time, as we were on our way to Germany and 

 the Rhine. 



Crossing Lake Constance, less picturesque and less beautiful 

 than most of the other Swiss lakes, we are in the kingdom of 

 Wurtemburg. There is the royal steamer, not far off, running 

 down the lake. It is a large and beautiful boat, for a lake 

 steamer, and has the royal ensign flying at the mast. 



Standing here upon the deck of the little steamer that is 

 setting us across, we can see four kingdoms, all bordering upon 

 the lake. There is Austria at the southern extremity, and the 

 mountains of Tyrol ; there is Bavaria where you see that pretty 

 town of Liudau on the eastern shore ; there behind us is Switz- 

 erland, with its fast receding mountains ; at our left, at the 

 northern extremity, where the Rhine pours its swift waters from 

 the lake, and where rises the town of Constance, is the Grand 

 Duchy of Baden. Tliere is where they pronounced the sentence 

 against John Huss, who was burnt alive by that famous council. 



