German Agricultural Population. 



33r 



In view of the decrease in the proportional number of 

 persons depending upon the actual wage-earners, the details 

 given as to the ages of the occupied persons are in- 

 teresting. Il appears that there is a tendency to commence 

 work in every industry at a lower age than at the date of 

 the previous census, which tendency is, however, least 

 marked in the case of agriculture. But where farming 

 differs most essentially from industries, and indeed from all 

 other occupations, is in the large and increasing number 

 of old persons employed. At all ages from fifty upwards 

 the ratio of agriculturists has increased since 1882, whereas in 

 all other occupations the percentage of persons over fifty 

 has very considerably declined. This increase in the per- 

 centage of both young and old in agriculture accords with 

 the greater proportionate decrease in the number of de- 

 pendents noticed above. 



A special table is also given showing the number of 

 children and of very old persons engaged in different 

 occupations, from which it appears that agriculture occupies, 

 a very prominent position in both respects : of the occupied 

 children under fourteen years of age (including the domeslic 

 servants in this case) no less than 63 per cent, (boys 72 per 

 cent., and girls 48 per cent.) are engaged in agriculture, and 

 of the old persons over seventy, 59 per cent, of the occupied 

 are similarly engaged. Excluding^ domestic servants the 

 proportion of girls under fourteen rises to 79 per cent. 



The foregoing statistics apply only to the primary occupa- 

 tions of the people ; there are, however, in Germany, as. 

 elsewhere, numerous persons who have also a secondary 

 occupation. A secondary occupation is defined to be any 

 remunerative employment which is practised in addition to 

 the principal occupation, and which contributes materially 

 to the total income. The total number of persons returned 

 as having such a secondary employment is 3,273,456 (2,946,507 

 males, and 326,949 . females), including rather more than 

 200,000 persons of independent means without a chief 

 occupation. The number of cases of secondary occupation 

 returned is, however, 4,949,702. The diflference is to some 

 extent doubtless made up by servants and dependents wha 



