Agriculture in Holland. 



37i 



beet, which is fostered by a system of bounties, and the 

 production of bulbs, seeds, and market-garden produce. 



The importance of the dairy industry in the Netherlands is 

 indicated by the large proportion of milch cows in the cattle 

 herds of the country, and also by the steady growth in the 

 number of butter and cheese factories, co-operative and 

 otherwise. In 1896 there were 639 of these establishments in 

 operation, and in the following twelve months 128 new 

 factories were opened, so that in 1897 there weie 702 butter 

 and 65 cheese factories. The estimated gross production of 

 butter and cheese in 1897 amounted to 104,281,846 lbs. and 

 142,1 13,882 lbs. respectively. Of the former, 39,140,700 lbs 

 and of the cheese 38,248,100 lbs. were produced in factories 

 and the remainder was made in farm dairies. 



In connection with these remarks on the progress of dairy- 

 ing in Holland reference may be made to some interesting 

 observations on certain features of Dutch farming contained 

 in a report, recently issued by the Essex. Technical Instruction 

 Committee, on the results of a visit of a number of Essex, 

 agriculturists to the Netherlands. The districts visited 

 were for the most part polder land, i.e., land which had been 

 reclaimed from the sea or marsh, protected by massive sea 

 walls, and kept drained by pumping engines. The soil was 

 either alluvial or peaty, of great depth, and, in many cases 

 kept moist, even in time of drought, by maintaining the w^atei 

 in the canals at a constant level. On the farms in these 

 districts all the cattle were found to be of the pure Dutch 

 breed, which though in soma respects inferior for beef pro- 

 duction, is celebrated for the high milk yields furnished by the 

 cows. With the object of improving the herds, the steer calves 

 are usually fattened, while the heifers are reared and only killed 

 if they turn out inferior milkers. The cows are kept in 

 a condition of scrupulous cleanliness, and many of the herds 

 are subjected to a periodical inspection for tuberculosis, 

 which it is stated enables the meat, milk and live stock from 

 such herds to command a ready sale. At a farm at Wadding- 

 steen which was visited the average daily yield per cow in 

 January was 14 J pints, and in June 28 pints. The average 

 annual yield of milk per cow in this herd during the last six 



