30 AGRICULTURE 0>' THJi RHI>i;. 



usually laid out with regard to abundant and rich pas- 

 tures. Cattle are here fattened on the grass and clover. 

 A farm near Wesel has a stock of seven horses, eight 

 cows, thirty oxen, besides calves, and sixteen to twenty 

 pigs, on about twenty-eight acres. These farms are half 

 pasture land, flooded in the spring by the Rhine, and yet 

 the number of hands employed is from seven to ten men, 

 and three to four women, servants. The wages of the 

 former are from 5/. to 61. per annum, with hearty meals, 

 at which meat appears every day, especially on the low 

 left bank of the river, where the estates mostly belong 

 to rich owners. On the right bank the road we have 

 followed joins the second high road from Cleves to 

 Neuss, that runs parallel with the upland road, at Apj^el- 

 dorn, a flourishing village, the houses of which are 

 widely scattered, to place them as much as possible on the 

 lands belonging to the owners. Adjoining Appeldoru 

 is the hamlet of Marienbaum, which the inquiring tra- 

 veller will find the best station for a halt in this neigh- 

 bourhood. He will be surprised at the accommodation 

 which the inn affords, and will obtain much useful inform- 

 ation from the people of the house. From the inn to 

 the bank of the river is a pleasing walk of about three 

 miles. The small farm-houses have a very neat appear- 

 ance, and have a kitchen and flower-garden as a never- 

 tailing appendage. Here too we have found the la- 

 bourers' cottages on small allotments very neat, con- 

 taining a great deal of room in combination with great 

 economy of construction. The cottage is built of brick, 

 with a high roof which serves as barn and hayloft. The 

 entrance is into the kitchen, adj^iining which is a bedroom, 

 both roomy. Two other roon;< open from these, and the 

 stable, if there be one, is in continuation under the same 



