16 BULLETIN L399, U. S. DEPABTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
the north there are extensive moors, of little or no tillage value, but 
when drained provide excellent pasturage, so that this section of the 
country is characterized by its dairy industry. 
The temperature of the western part of the German plain, near 
the North Sea, is- markedly oceanic in character, with cool summers, 
mild winters, and a long growing season. In the neighborhood of the 
Baltic Sea the oceanic type of climate is much less noticeable. Far- 
ther east, in East Prussia and in Upper Silesia, the climate is colder 
and more inclement, approaching the continental climate of Russia. 
The seasonal variations and the daily ranges of temperature are also 
greater. In East Prussia and eastern Silesia late frosts must he ex- 
pected until in May, and fall frosts begin as early as September. 
The annual rainfall of most of the plains region is about 22 inches 
(55 millimeters). In East Prussia, however, and in the coastal 
regions, particularly along the North Sea, precipitation is much 
heavier. Some of the valleys of east Germany are drier, receiving 
only 16 to 18 inches (40 to 45 millimeters). In western Germany 
there is likely to be a dry period in May and June, but in the east 
the seasonal lack of rain is more pronounced, sometimes very mater- 
ially decreasing the grain yields in the eastern provinces. The 
heaviest precipitation usually occurs in July and August. 
These natural conditions in the plains area lead to farming on an 
extensive scale, over 60 per cent of the total agricultural area being 
in farms over 45 acres in extent and about k M) per cent being in farms 
over 247 acres (100 hectares) in extent. In the sandy soil of the 
plains, rye is the principal grain crop and potatoes the chief hoed 
crop. 
In the highland district of the south the greatest altitudes are 
found in the south Bavarian Lower Alps, where the mountains reach 
a height of 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) or more above sea level. The 
south Saxon ore-bearing mountain chains, which practically 
coincide with the southeastern political boundary of the country, can 
be classified as secondary mountains, with altitudes of from 3,250 to 
5,200 feet (1,000 to 1,600 meters). The central German highlands, 
including the Hartz Mountains, are also considered as part of the 
general highland region. 
The soil of the highlands is predominantly clay, although a great 
variety of soils is to De found. The temperature of the southern and 
eastern parts of the region is characterized by warm summers and 
long, cold winters, giving a comparatively short growing season. 
Rye can be grown in altitudes as high as 3,250 feet (1,000 meters) 
hut wheat is a profitable crop scarcely beyond 1,600 feet (500 meters). 
There is considerable danger of (vosi in the spring until in May. and 
in the fall, frosts begin in September. Toward the northwestern 
part of the highland region the influence of the ocean is felt. The 
summers are cooler, the winters milder, and the growing season com- 
paratively long. The rainfall in the mountains of the southeastern 
part of the region averages about 48 to 56 inches (1,200 to 1,400 
millimeters) hut in the lower region about 24 to 28 inches, with the 
exception of a drier area in Anhalt and part of the province of Saxony 
known as the region of the "'rain shadows" of the Hartz Mountains. 
There the annual rainfall is in the neighborhood of 16 to is inches 
(400 to 450 millimeters) a year. 'Hie mountains in the west and south 
of the highland region have a rainfall of from 50 to 80 inches and more. 
