74 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



HOLLAND AND ITS PEOPLE.* 



BY PROF. WILLIAM H. NILES, MASS. INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BOSTON. 



In the selection of a subject appropriate for presentation 

 here this evening, I have considered myself somewhat for- 

 tunate in having a familiarity with a country like Holland. 

 You are all aware that Holland possesses many features 

 of general interest and attractiveness. You are also aware 

 that some of its characteristics are of special interest to 

 those who are associated with agricultural industries. It 

 will be my purpose this evening to address my remarks to 

 all who are here, — guests, citizens of the town and agri- 

 culturists. 



Will you now please allow your thoughts to wander with 

 mine across the Atlantic, past the British Islands, and over 

 the North Sea to its eastern shore. There we find a low, 

 watery plain, which is known as "the Netherlands," that 

 is, the " low countries." When this was first known, 

 which was before the Christian era, it was a vast forest, 

 thickly interspersed with waters and often widely sub- 

 merged. History tells us that the ancient Romans doubted 

 whether they should consider their possessions here as being 

 land, or water. But the winds and the floods gradual Iv de- 

 stroyed the forests, and in time the country became a treach- 

 erous and almost deforested marsh. It was nearly two 

 thousand years ago when a portion of a singular Germanic 

 people sought a home upon one of the long, spongy islands, 

 where they built some rude huts, and began a life that con- 

 tained only the elements of civilization. The island itself 

 was called Batavia, and the people were known as Batavians. 

 Northward from them there lived a tribe with w hom they were 

 upon terms of friendly intimacy, linown as the Friesians. 



* Illustrated by sixty stereopticon views. 



