47 



which requires greater strength to plough. There 

 are some others, especially near Tilsit, of less extent ; 

 but the whole of them, if compared with the great 

 extent of the surface of the country, are merely 

 sufficient to form exceptions to the general classifica- 

 tion which may be made of the soil. The various 

 Implements of Husbandry are quite of as low a 

 description as the working cattle. The ploughs are 

 ill constructed, with very little iron in them. The 

 harrows are made of wood, without any iron, even 

 for the tines or teeth. The waggons are mere planks, 

 laid on the frame loose, and resting against upright 

 stakes, fixed into its sides. The cattle are attached 

 to these implements by ropes, without leather in any 

 part of the harness. The use of the roller is scarcely 

 known ; and the clods, in preparing the fallow ground, 

 are commonly broken to pieces by hand with wooden 

 mallets. In sowing, the seed is carried in the apron, 

 or the skirts of the frock of the man who scatters it 

 on the ground. 



The monied value of the Live Stock on the farms 

 is low. The best flocks of Merino Sheep, exclusive of 

 the wool, are averaged to be worth about 65. or 6s. 8c/. 

 per head. Cows are worth from 30*-. to 65s. A dairy 

 which I saw, of the best description, was let to a 

 dairyman at 36-v. per year. The owner told ir.e, he 

 valued them at 75s. per head, and thought the average 

 weight of the butter from each, the calf being taken 

 from the mother when ten days old, was about 

 \'2Q(bt>. each year. The variation in the price of 

 cows is much greater than in that of sheep, according 

 to their race, to the soil on which they are pastured, 

 and to the distance from large towns requiring sup- 

 plies of milk and butter. The price of hay varies, 

 according to the situation and quality, from 14y. to 

 20*. the ton. 



The general burdens of the State in Prussia are 

 the subject of -complaints among all classes ; and 



