THE HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN 



355 



lowest to the next higher level, and so on, until carried over the 

 highest dike to the sea. The canals range from small ones useful 

 for drainage and divisions between farms to those of considerable 

 size and depth, on which extensive traffic takes place. The damp 

 climate is neither hot in summer nor severely cold in winter, the 



FIG. 150. A map of Holland and Belgium showing the provinces, the important 

 cities, water courses, etc. 



average temperature being about 50 degrees. About one third of 

 Holland is devoted to pasturage, and extensive market gardens are 

 found near the principal cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. On 

 thousands of acres about Haarlem tulips, hyacinths, etc. are grown. 

 The origin of Dutch cattle is very obscure. It has been claimed 

 that for over a thousand years the people of Holland have kept 

 cattle that have been famous for the production of milk, butter, and 



