GERMANY. 423 



years no contagious diseases have been observed in this district; if 

 brought in from Holland and other adjacent countries they always were 

 localized and arrested in the places infected, wherefore I can only repeat 

 my former assertion that the cattle in the marshes are the most hardy 

 and healthy race of North Germany and Holland. 



Having already reported in the foregoing on the disposition made of 

 the overproduce of these cattle by the breeders, I only need refer to 

 the annexed tables, in which further particulars are to be found. 



AMERICAN CATTLE AND HOGS IN OLDENBURG. 



Concerning the importation of live cattle from the United States to 

 this district, I have to state that so far I find it to be confined to a few 

 head. These did not come up to the expectations, showing too much 

 of the Shorthorn blood, thereby taking a long time to fatten; so that 

 this importation ceased after the first trial. Lately, however, live pigs 

 of the Poland-China race have been imported from the United States 

 with some success. These importations would no doubt have been 

 more numerous if a reliable connection with breeders in the United 

 States was easier to obtain. As it is, the commission, shipping, and 

 expenses charged greatly enhance the prices. A respectable commis- 

 sion appointed here for sale or exchange of cattle for breeding or graz- 

 ing purposes would, no doubt, greatly assist in the transaction of the 

 cattle business, and certainly in a short time would render a good 

 account. 



IMPORTS OF MEATS AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. 



Of other cattle produce imported here by way of Bremen and Ham- 

 burg, I have to mention besides canned meats, salt beef in barrels, salt 

 pork in barrels, butter, and cheese. The salt beef, not only used for 

 ships' provisions but also for inland consumption, is of some moment, 

 whilst the importations of salt pork in barrels, by reasoii of the pro- 

 hibitive import laws of Germany, consist only of those qualities used 

 for ships' provisions — salt bacon, as well as refined lard, for inland con- 

 sumption being strictly prohibited, the import thereof has entirely 

 ceased. In oflacial quarters in Berlin it would appear that the seafar- 

 ing people of Germany are not considered subject to trichynosis, other- 

 wise the exemption as above stated would not have been allowed. 



The importation of butter or margarine is limited, as butter is over- 

 produced here, and commands in the Bremen and Hamburg markets 

 prices nearly 10 to 25 per cent, higher than other butter. The consump- 

 tion of American butter and margarine is more or less confined to the 

 more saving class of the population, whilst the poorer classes eat none 

 at all, in lieu thereof eating raw smoked bacon. 



PERCENTAGES OP THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OP CATTLE IN THE 



DISTRICT. 



The percentage of the pure bred Oldenburg, Jeverland, and East 

 Frisian cattle is about 65 to 75 per cent, in either province, whilst the 

 ' Shorthorn cattle, bred only in the Weser marshes by one or two breeders, 

 amount to about 10 per cent. The remainder is of a mixed breeds, not 

 necessary to enumerate. For dairy purposes nearly 25 per cent, are 

 bred, the remainder for breeding, slaughtering, or exportation. 



BEST CATTLE FOR EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES. 



I am of the opinion that the best cattle to be imported into the United 

 States from Germany, to improve the breed there, without any doubt 



