406 



Cattle-Breeding in Germany. [oct., 



under 50 per cent, while many of them contain over 20 per 

 cent, of magnesia, which is practically certain to do harm. 

 Low qualities of lime may be due to (a) bad burning, (F) 

 excess of magnesia, and (c) deficiency in lime. When lime- 

 stone is burned, improper burning can be readily detected 

 owing to the presence of lumps of unburned limestone in the 

 product. Chalk lime when badly burned cannot be so readily 

 detected ; purchasers of lime from chalk should satisfy them- 

 selves on this point. Purchasers of agricultural lime should 

 therefore insist on suitable guarantees. 



The authorities of the Agricultural Department of Arm- 

 strong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, are now engaged in 

 investigations as to the character of limes used for agricultural 

 purposes in the North of England. 



Douglas A. Gilchrist. 



CATTLE-BREEDING IN GERMANY. 



Relatively to the total area the number of cattle in the 

 German Empire is about the same as in the United Kingdom, 

 there being in each case approximately one head to every seven 

 acres. Since 1873, when 15} millions were returned, the figures 

 have been steadily rising, and in 1900, the latest year for 

 which particulars are available, the actual number in Germany 

 was nearly 19 millions. This increase has enabled the supply 

 of this class of live stock nearly to keep pace with the 

 growth of the population, there being 33 6 head of cattle per 

 100 inhabitants in 1900 compared with 34*5 per 100 in 1883, 

 and 38*4 in 1873; at the same time it is considered that the live 

 weight is now greater than was formerly the case, so that the 

 supply per head has not in all probability materially changed. 

 The extension in cattle-keeping is in noticeable contrast with 

 the decline in sheep, the numbers of which have fallen from 

 some 25 millions in 1873 to a little over g\ millions in 1900, so 

 that the German flocks now represent only 17 sheep per 100 

 inhabitants against 61 in the earlier year. 



An interesting feature in connection with the cattle industry 



