HOLLAND. 509 



DECREASE IN THE CATTLE OF HOLLAND. 



The agricultural report of the Netherlands covering the year 1881, 

 and which has only recently been published, shows that the cold and 

 rough weather in the months of April and May of that year was ex- 

 tremely damaging to the pasture lands, and that farmers who already 

 had their stock out in pasture were compelled to house them again or 

 turn them into their meadows or hay fields. 



It was not until June that the growth of grass began to revive, and 

 the prospect for a good hay year seemed better. 



Still the first cut of hay turned out but a very indifferent product 

 both as to quantity and quality, whereas the second mowing, owing to 

 almost constantly prevailing rains, resulted far more disastrous and 

 yielded in many places hardly any hay crop at all. 



In consequence thereof it was found that at the end of the year 1881 

 the stock of cattle in the country had decreased by over 35,000 head 

 as compared with same period of 1880. 



A further decrease in the number of cattle is now reported as having 

 occurred in 1882, amounting to about 6,500 head; caused by the scar- 

 city of fodder, grass, clover, hay, and straw during the winter of 1S81-'S2. 



But as the last and the current years proved both to be far more 

 favorable grass years and yielded abundant hay crops, the decrease of 

 about 4,100 head in 1881 and in 1882 will, most likely, soon be made 

 up for again, if that is not the case already. 



STOCK RECUPERATIVE POWER OF HOLLAND. 



A temporary decline in the numerical condition of the stock of cattle 

 occasions in this country no particular uneasiness, as it is generally 

 and well understood that the country's recuperative powers in this re- 

 spect are very great, and that under anyways favorable circumstances 

 its efficacy for stock-raising is prodigious. 



As an illustration hereof the following is stated : In 1866 the stock 

 of cattle, in consequence of the cattle-plague, had been reduced to 

 1,302,600 head, and in 1867 there were again 1,361,300 cattle in the 

 country, and in 1870, 1,410,800; thus in the comparatively short space 

 of time (four years), the increase amounted to 108,200 heads. 



So has it happened in 1864 and in 1871, that on account of the scarcity 

 of grass, clover, hay, and straw the stock showed a shrinkage of 45,300 

 head in the former and of 34,800 head in the latter year as against the 

 previous years respectively, but it was in both cases replenished in the 

 course of but few years. 



From facts and figures above stated may, in a measure, be deduced 

 that the stock of this country is more than sufficient for home demands, 

 and that such is actually the case will be further realized by a glance 

 at the figures given below, and representing the exports of cattle from 

 this country during the last five years and during the nine months of 

 the current year, viz : 



Exports of Dutch cattle. 



