Book I. 



AGRICULTURE IN GERMANY. 



89 



558. Of the live stock of Germany, the best breeds of working horses and of oxen are in 

 Holstein, and some districts between Hamburg and Hanover. The best saddle horses are 

 reared in Hungary. There are also excellent oxen and cows reared in that country, and 

 exported to Italy and Turkey. The best sheep are in Saxony and Prussia, where the 

 Spanish breed has been naturalised. Swine are common ; but the breed is every where 

 very indifferent. Goats are reared in the mountains ; and also asses and mules. The 

 forests are stocked with wild deer, boars, stags, hares, and other game. Fish are carefully 

 bred and fattened in some places, especially in Prussia ; and poultry is every where attended 

 to, and carried to a high degree of luxury at Vienna. Bees are attended to in the neighbour- 

 hood of the forests ; and silkworms in the southern districts, as far as Presburg. Canary 

 and other singing birds are reared in Westphalia, and exported to most parts of Europe. 



559. The culture afforests is particularly attended to in Germany, for the same reasons 

 as in France, and the details in both countries are nearly the same. The number 

 of German books on Forst-wissenschaft is astonishing, and most of the writers seem 

 to consider woodlands in that country as a more eligible source of income than any other. 



560 The common agriculture of Germany may be considered as every where in a state 

 of gradual improvement. Both governments and individuals have formed institutions for 

 its promotion, by the instruction of youth in its principles and most enlightened practices ; 

 or for the union of men of talent. The Imperial Society of Vienna, the Georgical Institu- 

 tion of Presburg, and that of the late Professor Thaer, in Prussia, may be mentioned 

 as recent efforts. The farmers in Germany are particularly deficient in the breeding and 

 rearing of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine. Of the latter two, they require new breeds 

 from judicious crosses ; and the former require selection, and much more care in 

 rearing. The implements of husbandry also require to be improved, and the importance 

 of working fallows in a very different manner from what is now done should be inculcated. 

 If peace continue, there can be no doubt that these, and all other ameliorations will go 

 rapidly forward ; for the spirit of agricultural improvement is at present, perhaps, more 

 alive in Germany than in any other country of Europe. 



561. In noticing some traits of agriculture in the different states of Germany, we shall 

 begin with Denmark at the most northerly extremity, and proceed, in the order of 

 geograpliical position, to Hungary in the south. 



Subsect. 2. Agriculture of the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland and Iceland. 



562. The improvement of the agriculture of Denmark may be dated from 1660, when 

 the king became despotic, and was enabled to carry measures of national benefit into 

 execution without the jarring interference of councils. The slaves of the crown were 

 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 free way ; both which led to enclosures, draining, and irrigation. 

 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, except in England. In a word, considering 

 the disadvantages of climate, the agriculture of Denmark is in a more advanced state than 

 that of any other kingdom of Germany. 



563. 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 (biding 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 overhead, 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. 



564. Of the farmer's family, 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 snow-white napkins ; and near the doors of the dairies 

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



565. 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. 66.) _ 

 seems to have been adopted from the earliest ages 4= 

 amongst the inhabitants of northern Germany," as 

 similar ones are described by Joannes Lasicius in the 

 middle ol the sixteenth century. {Travels through Germany, Poland, §c. 13.) 



