SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 129 



'■■ The climate of Gennany i.s greatly modified by the elevation and declivities of the coun- 

 try ; but independently of that cause, it does not admit, from its extent in latitude, of any 

 vague or general definition. It may be divided, however, into three great zones, and these, 

 too, are susceptible of other subdivisions. The first is that of the northern plains, of which 

 tbe temperature is not so cold as it is humid and variable ; they are exposed to every wind, 

 while fogs and tempests are conveyed to this region from two seas. The north-west plain is 

 subject, fi-om its vicinity to the North Sea, to frequent rains and desolating hun-icanes. The 

 influence of the Baltic on the north-east plain is less powerful ; the climate, though colder, 

 is not 80 humid and variable. 



The second general zone comprehends all the central part of Gennany The moun- 



tiiins in that extensive region fonn a barrier against the eft'ects of the marithne climate. The 

 sky is not obscured by mists, and the regidar order of the seasons is not inteniipted by 

 winds and tempests ; but the elevation of the soil renders the climate colder than in other 



countries in the same latitude nearer the level of the sea The third general zone is 



that of the Alps. The lofty hights and rapid declivities connect very ditTerent climates; 

 thus the culture of the vine ceases in Bavaria and Upper Austria, and appears anew with 

 fresh vigor in the neighborhood of Vienna. The eternal glaciers of Tyrol and Salsburg ar© 

 contiguous to the valleys of Styria and Carniola, covered with fields of maize or vineyards, 

 and almost border on the olives of Trieste and the lemon-trees of Riva." 



Contiguous mountains render the north of Hungary extremely cold. 

 Farther south, the climate rapidly becomes waimer, and on the lower 

 plains in the extreme south the heat is intense and the climate insalubrious. 



The baiter or farmer in those States of Germany where the feudal ten- 

 ures have been abolished, and the land is held in fee simple, owns four or 

 five English acres of land. These men, says Mr. Jacob, 



•" although placed alcove the pressure of want, or possessing the bare necessaries of life, 

 liave very little beyoud them. Such as are industrious and fnigal, by cultivating llieii- small 

 portion of ground, may raise a sufficient quantity of potatoes for their own consumption, com 

 for their bread, and provisions for two draught oxen. They all raise a small quantity of 

 Hax, and some few' conirive to keep five or six sheep. It is often no easy matter for those to 

 find occupation, who are desirous of other employment in addition to the cultivation of their 

 own laud, for no agricultural labor can be can-ied onduring the long and severe winters. . . . 

 It is rare indeed that they can afford to have meat of any kind, and those only who are 

 more prosperous than their neighbors cau keep a cow to provide themselves with milk." 



The wool raised by these owners of five or six sheep, is annually 

 bought up by Jews and other traveling agents, who go from house to 

 house to collect it. 



The following extracts from William Howitt's sprightly and interesting 

 " Rural and Domestic Life in Germany " vd\[ show under what circum- 

 stances a great portion of its wool is grown : 



" Here you look in vain for anything like the green fields and hedge-rows of England. . . . 

 It is all one fenceless and plowed field. Long rows of trees on each side of the road are all 



that divide them from the fields The keeping up of the cattle presents you a new 



feature of rural life. As the quantity of land left ibr grass is very small, the gi'ass is propor- 

 tionably economized. The little patches of grass between woods and in the open parts of 

 the woods, the little strips along the river-banks and even in gardens and shrubberies, are 

 carefully preser\-ed for this purpose. You see women in these places cutting grass with a 

 small hook or smooth-edged sickle, and carrying it away on their heads in baskets for their 

 cows. You see the gi-ass on the lawns of good houses, on grass-plats, and in shrubberies, 

 very long and wild ; and when you ask why it is not kept closer mown, the reply is that it 

 is given to the milk-woman, often for a consideration, who cuts it as she wants it. You.«e« 

 other women picking the long grass out of the forests, or under the bushes on the hill-sides 



where the slopes have been mown, for the same jiur])0se The children may be seen 



8t<mding in the stream in the villages carefully washing weeds before they are given to the 



cattle Nettles, chervil, covv-parsuip, which in England are left to seed and rot, art) 



all here cut for the impri.>oned cow. You go down to the river-side to fish, and a peasant is 

 soon with you, chattering and gesticulating, pointing to your feet and to the grass. It is to let 

 you know that you are not to angle there, because it treads down the grass ; and accordingly, 

 in Gennany, with rivers full of fish, you seldom see an angler; if you, he is pretty sure to be au 



EngHshman Not a sheep, a horse, (jr a cow is to bo seen. . . . The mountain tops are 



covered with wood. The slopes are covered with vineyards. You ask where the cattle are? 

 You are answered, in the stalls. Where are the sheep? Under the caie of she[)herds, 

 somewhere — Heaven knows where ! you never come across them. It i.^ only on the great 

 (273) 9 



