222 
27th report, bureau of animal industry. 
GERMANY. 
P>om Tacitus and other classic authors we learn that in the land of 
the Germans there were many cattle, which were small, though of the 
primigenius type. 
It abounds in flocks and herds, but in general of a small breed. Even the 
beef kind are destitute of their usual stateliness and dignity of head; they 
are, however, numerous, and form the most esteemed, and indeed the only 
species of wealth. * * * 
Homicide is atoned by a certain fine in cattle and sheep. * * * 
Their food is simple; wild fruits, fresh evening or coagulated milk. [A note 
says this is not cheese, although Csesar says " their diet consists of milk, 
cheese, and flesh,"] 
Pliny saj^s: 
It is surprising that the barbarous nations who live on milk should for so 
many ages have been ignorant, or have rejected the preparation of cheese, 
especially since they thicken their milk into a pleasant tart substance, and a 
fat butter; this is the scum of milk of a thicker consistency than what Is 
called whey. It must not be omitted that it has the properties of oil. and is 
used as an unguent by all the barbarians and by us for children. (XI, 41.) 
Caesar says the Germans were not studiotis of agriculture. A cross 
of the primigenius of the old Teutons took place Avith longifrons^ 
which is seen in the lowland breeds of Germany to-day. At the 
beginning of the fifth century the Allemanni went from south Ger- 
many to east Switzerland, carrying the red Celtic hrachycepJialus 
and crossed it with longifrons, giving rise to the Alga tier breed. The 
yellow breed of Oberinthaler may also have arisen in a similar man- 
ner after the Gauls entered Ehetia (Werner). 
In northwestern Germany the cattle are similar to those of the 
Netherlands, while in the southern part they are more like the cattle 
of Switzerland. In the middle part of the empire are a variety of 
breeds which are little known outside of their native districts, so 
that any detailed description of them here must be omitted. A few 
representatives of the Simmenthal breed, a beautiful modern type of 
frontosns^ have been brought to the United States. 
A detailed description of German breeds may be found in the works 
of Dr. Hugo Werner and other German authors. (See also Cattle 
and Dairy Farming." United States Consular Reports, 2 vols., 1887.) 
THE NETHERLANDS. 
The oldest inhabitants of Holland of which we have any records 
are the Friesians, who dwelt on the shores of the Xorth Sea as early 
as 300 B. C. They were a peaceable, pastoral people and may have 
originally migrated from central or western Asia. Little is known 
concerning the characteristics of their cattle, but it is certain that a 
portion of them were white and that they were of some religious sig- 
