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VI. — On the Agriculture of the Netherlands. By the Rev. 

 W. L. Rham, A.m., Vicar of Winkfield, Berks.— Part I. 



Having been requested by the President and the Journal Com- 

 mittee to communicate the result of my observations on the present 

 state of agriculture in the Netherlands, I shall endeavour to com- 

 prise, in a short essay, those peculiar modes of cultivation which 

 have made that portion of the continent of Europe so superior to 

 the surrounding countries in an agricultural point of view, and 

 which throw considerable light on the true principles of practical 

 husbandry. Some of the details have been laid before the public 

 in the " Farmer s Series of the Library of Useful Knoidedge/^ 

 under the title of " Outlines of Flemish Husbandry.'' I shall 

 take the liberty of quoting largely from this little work, which, 

 having been v/ritten on the spot, and referring to particular 

 farms, of which the names are given, may be relied upon as giv- 

 ing a correct account of the modes of cultivation, and of the 

 details of the practice generally adopted there. 



The climate of the Netherlands, from the borders of France to 

 the northern part of Holland, along the coast of the North Sea, 

 and for 50 or 60 miles inland, differs little from that of Kent or 

 Essex, in England. From its geographical position, forming a 

 part of the continent of Europe, it is warmer in summer and 

 colder in winter than the central part of England. The quantity 

 of rain which falls there is not so great, especially in winter, as 

 in those parts of England which lie on the opposite coast ; but 

 the snow covers the ground for a much longer time. This causes 

 a material difference in the time of ploughing the land and sowing 

 the seed in spring. 



The quality of the soil is various.. Towards the northern part of 

 Flanders and Antv^ erp, and the southern part of Holland, it is a poor 

 loose sand, almost as barren as that which is found on the sea-shore 

 blown into hillocks and only kept together by the roots of the sea- 

 bent (Arundo Arenaria). If it were not for a small portion of mud 

 occasionally mixed with this soil the water would freely percolate 

 through it, and no vegetation could be supported. In proportion 

 to the quantity of the mud, which is a very fine clay with a portion 

 of decayed shells and organic matter, the soil is more or less 

 fertile ; and when the mud enters into it in a considerable pro- 

 portion, it forms a rich, compact loam. In many places there are 

 alternate narrow strata of sand and loam., which, being mixed 

 together, form a very productive soil, small portion of car- 

 bonate of lime, produced from the decomposition of sea- shells, is 

 found in the mud, when it is analysed ; but there is no limestone, 

 chalk, or marl, in any portion of this coast. 



