Russian Eggs. 



397 



In a report recently issued by the Forestry Division of the 

 United States Department of Agricul- 

 ^nGe™any^^ stated that one of the districts 



in Germany in which osier willow 

 culture and the basket-making industry have made most 

 rapid progress is situated in the valleys of the Wurm 

 and the Roev near the borders of Holland. Twenty-five 

 years ago there were not more than 70 acres of osier willows 

 in the district; now all the large pasture lands are intersected 

 bv these plantations. The entire area planted amounted in 

 the year 1882 to 1,393 acres; at present it is estimated at 

 about 1,640 acres. Twenty-five years ago there were but very 

 few basket-maKers in the district ; now there are 952. A 

 willow- weaving school, w^hich was establisherl in 1876, with 

 the object of producing thoroughly capable workmen in this 

 department of industry, has already done excellent work, and 

 promises still better results. The prosperity of the district is 

 reported to have been greatly increased by the introduction 

 of this new industry. Basket-making in Germany is a 

 considerable industry, employing nearly 40,000 persons 

 annually, representing nearly 625, 000 capital, and using 

 the growth of over 48,000 acres of willows, valued at 

 ^396,000 on the stocks, or nearly double that amount when 

 peeled. When it is considered that the soil devoted to osiers 

 is generally ill-adapted for agriciiitural purposes, and conse- 

 quently of little marketable value, these figures represent an 

 unusually high rent. 



The egg trade is assuming considerable proportions in 

 Russia, In 1897 29,842 tons were exported 

 ^Eg-g^s'^ from Riga. This means that something like 

 430,000,000 eggs were shipped to Western 

 Europe during the year, the bulk of them finding their way to 

 the United Kingdom and Germany. And it seems more than 

 probable that the trade will grow still larger in view of the 

 increased facilities for conveyance which the railways and 

 certain steamship companies are bringing into operation. 



