Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-03-27
Perils Of Agriculture in Tyrol.

The persistence with which humanity
attaches itself to fertile land without re-
gard to danger is Illustrated elsewhere
than here. The peasants on the slopes of
Vesuvius push their cultivation and plant
their homes in the very track of possible
lava stream, and. all the world over, facil-
ity for obtaining livelihood blinds the
cultivator to all risks. Grohman says "In
the Wild-Schonau. North Tyrol, not few
of the houses are built on such steep slopes
that heavy chain has to be laid round the
houses and fastened to some firm object
large tree or bowlder OF rock higher up.
In one village on the Puster Thai, and in
two others on the OberiDn Thai, many of
the villagers come TO church with cram
poons on their feet, the terrible steep slopes
on which their huts are built, some what
like q swallows nest on wall, requiring
this precautionary measure. In Moos-a
village not very far from the Brenner, hay
ing population Of eight hundred inhabit-
ants-uorc than three hundred men ana
women have been killed since 1853 by falls
from the incredibly steep slopes upon
which the pasturages OF this village are
situated. So steep are they, In fact, that
only goats, and even they not everywhere,
can be trusted to Craze on them, and the
hay for the larger cattle has to be cut aud
gathered by the hand OF man.
have myself seen, in walking among
the hills, little stores of grass piled against
the upper side of protecting trees, where
1t had been brought In armtuls when cut
by the splke-shod mower. The haymak-
ers gather their little crops here and there
on the steep grass-patches, almost at the
limit Of vegetation, pack it In nets or in
sheets. and bring it on their shoulders
down the steep and dangerous paths. My
earlier idea OF an alp" was that of level
plateau at the top OF the lower mountains
Alps which are even nearly level are very
rare, especially among the higher eleya-
sions. Generally they are so steep, so
broken, and so inaccessible that one won
ders how cattle are got to them, aud how
they can be trusted to Craze over them.
These alps are bounded by no fences and
il must be an anxious task for those who
have the herds n charge to get them safely
together at milking-time. Each animal
wears its bell-not the hollow sounding
dull cowbell with which we are familiar,
but musical in tone, aud heard for much
greater distance. The alpine hut and the
Sennerin, or dsiry-maid. who spends the
whole Summer in nearly solitary attention
to her ardupus duties, are not altogether
what ones Imagination might depict. She
IS not the dairy-maid OF poetry, nor is her
temporary home filled with the more eth
ereal pastoral associations. Yet these
people, too. have 4 romantic and imagn-
alive side to their lives, and are happy and
wholesome and coatent.
The agriculture Of North Tyrol, outside
Of the valley OF the lun, is mostly confined
to very small operations. A few cattle. "A
few sheep, a little poultry. a few small
| fields, and mountain pasture constitute
the stock in trade on which the industrious
and frugal pair bring up their family in
comfort and decency, accumulate portions
| 70: their daughters, and lay aside provis
ion tor their own Old age. Labor-savug
hardly exists. Everything is accomplished
BY unmitigated and unremittsd toll. In
youth and in early life the people are stall
wart, active and hearty but old aye comes
very early, and al forty the vigor OF man
| hood and wouanhoo1 is passed-the ac-
t!vlty aud vigor, but not the endurance
up TO really Old age even slight little wom-
EN- carry enormous loads in the baskets a.
their backs up aud down steep rough hill
sides AMI mountan-paths, where an unac-
eustomed tourist must pun and toll To NOV,
his own unencumbered person.-3eorge
T. Waring, Jun, In H1rper's .HIglziHe for
dprtL.