48.G 



CATTLE AND DAIKY FARMING. 



would have furnished an excellent basis for breeding purposes had the 

 subject received that attention from the authorities and people that it 

 eminently deserves, but, except by a few small farmers and communi- 

 ties, the matter has been neglected to such an extent that it has become 

 a question of serious concern to all. The matter is further complicated 

 by the fact that the small territory constituting Hesse-Darmstadt is 

 owned by a host of proprietors, of which there are 165,535, or about 

 that number, of whom 59 per cent, control less than 1 hectare;* 25.20 

 per cent., between 1 and 5 hectares; 10 per cent., between 5 and 10; 3.80 

 per cent., between 10 and 20 ; while only 2 per cent, hold more than 20 

 hectares. This, while advantageous to the, people in one respect, is very 

 unfavorable to cattle-raising. The Odenwald race has almost entirely 

 died out, and the Vogelsberg, a small, strong species, good for food 

 and draft purposes, is in nearly a similar condition. The Starkenburg 

 and Ehine-Hesse cattle are now being somewhat improved in isolated 

 quarters through the introduction of Simmenthal bulls. In years past 

 the various agricultural associations endeavored to raise the character 

 of the cattle of the Duchy, but want of proper fodder and other causes 

 conspired to thwart their aims. The Schwytz Brown cattle were first 

 tried until 1869, but it was found that they did not cross well with the 

 native cattle of Hesse, and the spotted cattle of the Simmenthal, be- 

 tween which and the native races of Hesse a relationship is said to 

 exist, are, now being used with much better success. After this ex- 

 perience with the Schwitz the coarse, red-spotted cattle of the Bernese 

 Oberland were selected, but as the milk-giving capacity of this species 

 had received little or no attention from the Swiss it was discovered 

 that a mistake had been made in turning to this variety, and in recent 

 years the finer, yellow-spotted cattle, especially the Saanenthal, have 

 been chosen in order to bring about an increase of milk, which trial 

 has not been long enough in operation to state results to any extent. 

 More attention is also being now given to the feeding of cattle than 

 formerly. The chief obstacle, as already stated, in the way of success- 

 ful breeding has been the want of ample pasturage, by reason of the 

 small size in general of the farms in Hesse, and also the lack of encour- 

 agement from the state. 



CATTLE STATISTICS OF HESSE-DARMSTADT. 



According to an enumeration of cattle made in 1873, there were then 

 in the Duchy the following number of animals : 



The Grand Duchy has in round numbers about nine hundred and 

 forty thousand persons to nourish, who require per head on an average 



*One hectare is a very little less than 2 acres. 



