172 AGRICULTLKK OX THE RUIKE. 



fort, as townsmen of older standing, arc much more in- 

 dustrious, A walk through the "garden-field" of 

 Mayence, as a portion of the land enclosed between the 

 walls of the town and the outer range of works is called, 

 is an interesting lounge in summer. Not only has every 

 citizen his little plot, to which he or his family with male 

 or female servants adjourn to drink coffee, smoke, and 

 delve the soil every afternoon ; but nursery gardens on a 

 small scale may be found which disseminate the new 

 plants and flowers as they come into use or into fashion. 

 A flower show is held twice a-year at Mayence, at which 

 prizes are distributed. In Frankfort the love of flowers 

 is a pleasing characteristic of tiie richer inhabitants, 

 especially as they lend their aid to extend this desirable 

 taste amongst their poorer neighbours. The flower show 

 takes place several times in the year, and it is combined 

 with a lottery for the purchase and distribution of th 

 plants. Thus the poorer gardeners are sure to be in- 

 demnified for any extra cost to which they go in rearing 

 }>lants. 



The ca<e with which money is earned by studying the 

 wants and whims of the numerous strangers during the 

 season at Wiesbaden, takes the people oil' their regular 

 employm.cnts. Building speculation has however done 

 more to disturb the regular progress in agriculture, for 

 which the neighbourhood is well adapted. » The character 

 of the whole country between the mountain limits that 

 V, e have traced is decidedly agricultural ; but there is. a 

 mixture and uncertainty that puzzles the observer unless 

 he is prepared to allow for some disturl)ing element 

 such as we have described, or to regard the agriculture 

 of the country as in a state of transition. 



