GERMANY. 415 



The preponderance of cattle-breeding in the marshland is evident, 

 and the quality of the race for milking, breeding, and slaughtering pur- 

 poses so far exceeds the races in the Geestlands that it is not necessary 

 to enter into more particular details than is shown in the annexed tables 

 of these latter races, they being of too inferior quality to improve the 

 breed in the United States. 



According to a statement made by the director of the statistical de- 

 partment at Oldenburg, the comparative value of the cattle raised in the 

 Weser marshes, classed in the three groups hereinbefore mentioned, may 

 be stated to amount per metric square mile of cultivated land for Class 

 A, from $37,750 to 845,000 5 Class B, from $30,000 to 837,750 ; Class C, 

 from $22,500 to $30,000 ; whilst the value of the cattle raised on the 

 Geestlands amount only for first class land, from $18,500 to 822,000 ; for 

 second class land, from $14,500 to $18,000 for third class land, from 

 $7,000 to $12,000 or 14,000 per metric square mile. 



The better the soil the larger is the number of horses and cattle kept 

 thereon in the marshes, whilst in the Geestlands sheep are prominent, 

 next agriculture and peat digging. 



Nearly all farmers in the marshes are proprietors of the land they 

 use; nameable nobility, abounding in other parts of Germany, does not 

 exist there, therefore larger estates than from 8 to 40 hectares in the 

 marshes and from 15 to 60 hectares in the Geestlands are but seldom 

 met with. 



CATTLE AND CATTLE-BREEDING- IN THE MARSHES. 



The foregoing appears necessary to the- understanding of the follow- 

 ing: 



For the promotion of cattle-breeding in the district of the marshes 

 several institutions have been established; the principal are: 



(1) The selection of bulls for covering purposes by delegates of the 

 interested farmers, veterinary surgeons, and some Government offi- 

 cials. 



(2) The institution of the herd-book, keeping a pedigree- of bulls and 

 cows selected for registry. 



(3) The different cattle shows. 



Selection of lulls. I have to remark that only such bulls may be used 

 for covering purposes as have been selected by this commission, which, 

 in general, is appointed by breeders and graziers in every district of 

 the public administration. For the best bulls premiums are granted 

 by the Government amounting to from $50 to $75 per head, according 

 to the form and the breed. This system, in general, enjoys the approval 

 of the farmers and breeders, as it guarantees that their cows are only 

 to be covered by well-formed and well-conditioned bulls. 



Herd-looks. The institution of the herd-book, although introduced 

 here only a few years ago, has served greatly to improve the breed of 

 the cattle; the register it contains gives tfce breeders a clear insight 

 into what effect they may obtain in strict pure breeding of selected 

 cattle. The first section of the statutes point out the exact aim which 

 the breeding has to obtain ; therefore the different animals are selected 

 by a commission which may in no instance deviate from this rule. The 

 institution of the herd-book has only been in use here for five years ; in 

 East Friesland it is to be introduced soon. In the marshes of the 

 duchy were registered 1,195 head of cattle; in the Geestlands, 819; 

 total, 2 3 OU head. 



