24 AGEICUJLTURE OX THE RHINE. 



The commencement made by the French in improving 

 the roads wherever they came as conquerors, has been 

 followed up perseveringly by the Prussian government, 

 which has met with full support, often at fearful sacrifices, 

 on the pai't of the people. Not only good, but luxurious 

 roads now traverse these districts in all directions. A 

 still greater change was effected by the steam-navigation 

 as soon as the comj^etition of the various companies re- 

 duced the freight to their present moderate rates. The 

 connection of the Belgian railroads with the Rhine by 

 the opening of the line from Cologne to Verviers had the 

 double effect of creating a nev/ outlet for Rhenish produce, 

 and of stimulating both the Dutch and the Belgian govern- 

 ments to favour the transit trade to and from Germany by 

 a reduction of duties, and a diminution of the annoyances 

 that have long been considered inseparable from custom- 

 houses. By degrees a mai'itime traffic sprang up between 

 the agricultural provinces of Prussia on the Baltic and 

 the populous districts on the Rhine, which, although 

 advantageous to the consumers in the manufacturing 

 towns and villages, has materially altered the position of 

 the Rhenish farmer. His distillery has long left him but 

 a doubtful result, and the small stills will probably in a 

 few years be altogether given up, and distilling will 

 become a separate occupation, to be carried on by capi- 

 talists, who, on their part, will purchase the materials they 

 require of the farmer. That neither party is ultimately 

 likely to lose by this change of course our readers will 

 premise. That it is at present accompanied by the 

 usual lamentations of those who are obliged to suit their 

 farming operations to the new system is also natural. 

 The complainants, however, overlook the improved state 



