414 



CATTLE AND DAIKY FARMING. 



the coast of the North Sea from Holland to Schleswig-Holstein, and is 

 formed by the deposits of the sea and the different rivers flowing into 

 it The other part is called the Geest or Geestland, composed of sand 

 and bog of a very light nature. The cattle bred on this soil, of course, 

 are of a lighter nature, but nevertheless good milkers, as is shown 

 hereafter. . ^ 



The marsh-land may be divided into three different regions, viz : 



(a) The region of the alluvium outside of the dikes or dams, which 

 is more exposed and is overflowed by high tides. 



(b) The region of the old pastures, grazing land, and that used for 

 tillage, all of which are protected by high dikes or dams against high 



(c) The region of the mixed marsh-land, thab is to say, clayish sand, 

 the transition from heavy clay to lighter soil. 



It is natural, therefore, that the quality of the soil in the marshes 

 must be a very different, and that with the change of the soil the weight 

 of the cattle corresponds, while beauty of the form depends less on the 

 nature of the soil, but more or less, if not entirely, upon the intelligence 

 of the breeders. 



The Geestland is diluvium and consists of a light sandy soil peculiar 

 to the plains of North Germany, in which sand, bog, or moor prevails ; 

 in some places loam covers the soil, which in general is greatly in want 

 of lime, as without it or good marl the cultivation of the better or more 

 profitable sorts of herbages for fodder is very limited, and for this rea- 

 son tjtie breeding'of heavy cattle is limited in the same manner. While 

 the marsh is entirely cultivated, only 60 per cent, ot the Geestland is 

 cultivated, the rest being barren or uncultivated heather or bog. 



TILLAGE AND GRAZING LANDS. 



The following table will show how the farmers in the Duchy of Olden- 

 burg make use of their land ; also in what manner cattle-breeding is 

 dependent on the quality of the different soils : 



• 1 hectare = 2. 471 acres. 

 Number of cattle. 



