The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-23
A Little Land Well Titled.


go Tribune We extract the following to
show what can be done on small area
of territory. The correspondent, after
discussing the prosperity of the people,
coal and iron interests, etc. thus speaks
of Belgium and her agricultural achieve
ments:
Belgium is only a small patch of
territory, containing barely 1o,4oo
square miles; but on this area there is
supported in comfort and independence
5.4oo,ooo souls! Can your readers realize
that on a space NOT exceeding one-ffth
that of Illinois there is concentrated the
population of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin
and Minnesota? But such is the fact.
"Not only does Belgium produce sufh-
cient food for her population, including
barley for the manu- eacture of beer, of
which large quantities are consumed,
but she grows nearly enough sugar beets
to supply her people with what "sweet-
ening" they need; and in the mountain
districts of Ardennes grapes enough are
grown to produce considerable part of
all the wine consumed in Belgium.
Previous to the French occupation
the land was held in vast estates by the
mobiles and priests for the benefit of
few pampered families, and as a conse-
quence, the country was badly titled by
an ignorant, sQperstiIions and poverty
pinched peasantry. But as fast as the
lands, under the operation of the French
laws, became the property of those
who farmed them, the system of tillage
improved. aud the condition of the peo-
pie changed from pauperism into indie
pendence.
"There is now no hereditary land
monopoly and no idle land in Belgium.
Not an acre Is devoted to deer parks.
pheasantries, or other sporting purposes,
for the enjoyment of luxurious and
dissOlute aristocraey, while masses of
men are starving for bread. As travel
Belgium I see swarms of men, women
and children cutting down and gather
ing a harvest of grain and grass, where
the wheat will yield thirty to forty BUSH
els to the acre, the oats fifty TO seventy
| five bushels, and the hay two and half
to four tons per acre; while the ensning
product of fax and root crops---potatoes
and beets-will be bevond the American
conception of possibilities The straw
berries, red raspberries and gooseberries
brought to market, while not superior in
favor to those sold in Chicago, are twice
or thrice as large.
"These enormous yields of agricultur-
al and Horticultural products are not in
consequence of better soil or climate
than in America, but are the result of
heavy manuring, deep plowing and spad-
ing, subsoiling, understanding when re-
qnired, irrigation when possible, watch
full hoeing and wedding free Use of guano
and other fertilizers for top-dressing,
and careful harvesting and storage of
crops, whereby nothing is wasted, lost or
allowed to rot in the field. This perfect
system of tillage never was adopted OF
thought of until the land became the
property of the cultivators of the soil,
and the relation of landlord and tenant
ceased to exist. The price of land in
Belgium ranges from $500 to'Sl 900 per
acre, and fair average would be $500
to $500; but there is very little offered
for sale.
Brussels possesses park which for
extent is unrivaled in Europe, and be-
fore long will have no superior in beau
ty-the great forest Of Soignes, which
extends from the suburbs south to the
edge Of the battlefield of Waterloo, a
distance of twelve miles. This large
tract has a great variety of hill and dale
surface, with some small streams flowing
through it. Il is densely crowded with
tall forest trees one or two centuries old.
Through this great forest the Belgian
government. to whom it belongs is con-
strncting broad drive ways and bride
paths, and cascades, bridges, grottos, and
other decorative works. But it ia SO ex-
tensive that it will take generations to
complete them ALL"