Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-18
German AerlcuItnre.

The German Empire exhibits TO the
world miracle of industry and thrift
in agriculture. The northern portion
from Berlin northward, is naturally lit
tie better than desert of sand, and
southwark the improvement IL small and
slow until the neighborh0od of Dresden
is reached, Saxony and Bavaria are the
most fertile provinces. Grains, pota-
toes, sugar beets, forage roots, yield
abundant returns for the patient labor
and constant fertilization required !:
wheat does not equal the yield of Eng
land, being at the rate of 17.2 bushels
per acre, yet the wonder is that so large
a product can be secured The latest
average for rye is 16-7 bushels; for oats,
80, 8 bushels. AS in Great Britain and
other countries, there is a marked
tendency to improvements of stock and
the increase of meat supplies. Former
ly, wool was paramount in sheep bus-
bandry, mutton being altogether subord-
mate. The original families of Spanish
merinos became founders of a new order
of ogine nobility, the Electoral in Sax
ony. the Negretti in Mechlenburg, and
the Electoral and Negretti in Silesia,
which became famous throughout the
world, ultimately supplying an extensive
demand from Australia, from South Af-
riea and South America, and a more
limited demand from the United States,
where the American breeders of the
same Spanish families commanded the
preference of q large majority of wool
growers. Now the production of fine
wool is declining in Germany, and the
South Downs and Leieesters of great
Britain are eagerly sought. The num-
bers are reported officially at 90, 900, 900,
of which about $4,000, 600 are merinoes
and other grades, 1000, 600 of pure or
partial English blood, and S,000,000 of
native races. The wool production is
estimated at 10000, 900 pounds. 1t is
found that the mutton breeds are more
profitable on the best lands and in the
densest populations, while in regions re-
mote from market and sparse in popula-
ton the merino still maintains its former
sway.
The cultivation of the vine has become
an extensive rural industry in Germany,
requiring the use of $50, 900 acres in
vineyards in Saxony, Bavaria, the Rhine
and Moselle Valleys, and other portions
of Southern and Western Germany.
The business is characterized by increas-
CulkNJG anu
skill. New varieties have been INTRO
duced, and improvements in the manu-
facture and treatment of wine. In
Bavaria the practice of setting vine
yards with poles and wires has obtained
to a considerable extent.
Flax and hemp are prominent pro
duets in Silesia, Westphalia, Hanover
and the Rhine Provinces; and hemp is
grown extensively in Baden and Alsace.
Foreign flaxseed is chiefly used, and the
home manufacture requires an import OF
foreign flax. Recent improvements IL
machinery for preparing the fiber arr
| giving an impetus to the business. To.
| bacco is profitable crop in some sec
tions; at Pfalz a tobacco of peculiar
| character is grown, valuable for wrap
peEs, to the extent of more than go, 00C
acres, yielding about l cwt. per acre.
Hops are grown largely in Bavaria
Hesse, Posen, Brunswick and Baden
| Between 1850 and 1860 the business wa
extended too rapidly, resulting in low
| prices followed by a temporary check il
production, which is now increasing
again. The practice of training th'
vines on wires has become very general
Diligence, patient persistence, /;
| gradual but steady march of improve
ment, appear to characterize every de
1 partment of German agriculture.