160 AGRICLLTLRE OX THE RHIXE. 



vfhich are packed with the leaves in some dry place, and 

 in spring they are thrown to the cows and sheep (some 

 readers may remember Laban"s adventure) ; but for 

 horses the leaves are stripped off the stalks, and are said 

 to be as nourishing as good hay. 



With the exception of a little butter sent to the markets 

 of Neuwied and Coblenz, the peasants of this district 

 have nothing to sell off their lands but fruit. The market 

 crop of the larger farmers is rape-seed ; and a similar style 

 of farming prevails throughout the mountainous tract that 

 intervenes between Coblenz and Bingen. 



On the right bank, the valley of the Lahn, narrow at its 

 mouth and shut in by rocky precipitous heights, presents 

 in the neighbourhood of Lahnstein, Ems, and Xassau, pic- 

 turesque sites that offer little that is interesting to the tra- 

 veller. Higher up the valley lie various ruins and country 

 seats, the estates surrounding which are good specimens 

 of careful German farming. Baron Stein of Altenstein 

 has long been a resident proprietor. Count Waltersdorf 

 of Moltke has a splendid seat in a commanding position, 

 overlooking the valley. The Archduke Stephen, son to the 

 Palatine of Hungary, has inherited from his mother large 

 estates, with the castle of Schaumburg, that are under 

 excellent management. The managers of estates of this 

 description are all scholars that have received a system- 

 atic education at one or other of the numerous agri- 

 cultural colleges that abound in Germany. They remain 

 in correspondence with these establishments, and con- 

 stantly communicate their practical experiments or ob- 

 servations to one or other of the popular agricultural 

 periodicals which these colleges publish. Any improve- 

 ment suggested is sure to meet with somebody willing to 



