AGRICULTURE O^ THE RHINE. 201 



The famous sites all beloncr to one principality, the 

 Duchy of Nassau. Nor should it be omitted here that 

 the Government has had no small share in improving 

 the cultivation of this valuable part of its territory. 

 Not only have the greatest improvements been made in 

 the ducal vineyards and cellars ; the means of improv- 

 ing were here early afforded to all by an easy and 

 moderate plan for commutation of the tithe. Very few 

 vineyards are now saddled with tithe, and the Govern- 

 ment encourages as much as it can the commutation of 

 what remains. The land-tax is, moreover, in Nassau 

 exceedingly light, and wine is free from excise duty. Ab- 

 sence of restrictions in the vineyards and in the cellar is 

 the great promoter of improvement, and every day 

 shows that this truth is here fully appreciated. The 

 following statistical details may be interesting as regards 

 the land-tax levied in the Rhinegau : — 



147,120 11,443 21,252 



The whole Rhinegau, consisting of 90,000 acres, pays 

 in a year, when five rates are levied, the sum of 106,260 

 florins, or about two shillings per English acre, which, 

 considering the enormous value of great part of the 

 land, must be considered very moderate. 



The left bank of the Rhine, from Bingen upwards, 

 forms the boundary of the Rhenish province of the Grand 

 Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt. Immediately opposite the 

 Rhinearau there are two sites favourable for wine : the 



