GEKMANY. 471 



The fact that this breed has remained pure during several centuries 

 is explained by the fact that the farmers in the mountains do not have 

 money enough to introduce foreign bulls. In the districts north from 

 the Black Forest the fodder plants are more abundant, and the breed 

 of cattle there, although bearing a great resemblance to the above- 

 described breed, are much larger and more fleshy. The cattle of this dis- 

 trict have been cross bred with Siinmenthal and Baar cattle. The prin- 

 cipal occupation of the farmers of this section is to raise young animals 

 until they are two or three years old, and to sell the?Ji afterwards to the 

 adjacent countries, such as Alsace, Wurtemberg. &c. 



ODENWALD CATTLE. 



In the Odenwald there is a breed which are adapted to the poorness 

 of the soil (colored sandstone). These animals measure on an average 

 3 feet 10 inches in height and 4 feet 6 inches in length. The hair is 

 generally brown; the head narrow and short; the back is a little bent; 

 the legs are weak and the shanks thin. The milk production is not 

 large, nor are these animals fit for fattening. Cows sell for $35, oxen 

 for $30, and bulls for $42. 



THE NECKAR CATTLE. 



In the northern hilly part of Baden, embracing the districts of Bretten, 

 Bruchsal, Heidelberg, and Wertliein, exists a variety which is generally 

 called the Neckar cattle. These cattle meet the requirements of the 

 small farmers, as they reach maturity very fast. The average height 

 is 5 feet 6 inches for oxen and 5 feet for cows. The average length for 

 oxen is 5 feet, and for cows ; 4 feet 10 inches. The color is mostly brown 

 or brownish red; tho head small, the neck short; back straight and 

 fleshy ; legs very short and muscular. The breed is less fit for dairy 

 than for fattening. 



Weight. 



Bulls cost $60 to $75; cows, $50 to $60; calves, $7 to $9. 



CATTLE CENSUS OF BADEN. 



The Badish Government has done very much for the improvement of the 

 live stock of Baden, especially by importations of Swiss spotted cattle 

 (Simmenthaler), and by a law establishing the quality and number of 

 bulls to be kept in every community. The last cattle census, made in 

 1880, states the total number of horned cattle in Baden to be 630,480 

 head ; bulls, 8,397 ; cows, 474,555 ; oxen, 112,559 ; calves, 34,969. This 

 gives an average number of 58 cattle to a square mile. 



For the inclosed photographs of the Messkirch breed of cattle, I am 

 indebted to the courtesy of his excellency the states minister of theGrand 



