The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-01-12

of dollars, bearing heavy interest. The
territory is so limited that it cannot be af-
forded to let the incursions of the sea flood
and sweep away any portion of 1t, not even
to the extent of an inch; and, therefore,
the artificial protection, reared by so much
pains;aking methods and care, has con-
stantly to be looked after, the slightest
damage instantly repaired and the whole
kept in perfect order No wonder then
that the little land has a big debt-bigger
than usual for nation Of its size, but those
most concerned do not grumble under it;
/ for not only can they afford to put up with
it. but they know it has been well incurred,
/ value received for the amounts charged,
and that nobody has been cheated. How
( this portion wrested from the sea has been
and Is made to give handsome returns the
/ figures show, and the present prosperity of
I the kingdom shows.
[ DAIRY AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
The soil is very fertile and being extra
ordinarily well irrigated, is adapted for rich
I grazing growths, consequently the country
( enjoys a pre-eminent yield in dairy products,
and. as Indicating to what extent, there may
+ be cited as a single instance the fact that
I in the one item of butter and butterine It
exports to England twenty-five million
dollars worth annually Holland could not
crush It's old rivals supremacy on the seas,
bat it eelipSes her to-day in making butter,
50 true is it that time sizes up all at last,
communities as we'll as individuals, accord
ing to what they best can do. Always
noted for their horticulture and abundant
exports of garden produce, the Dutch
originally discovered and improved what
are called the artificial grasses, which, by
SUPPLYING more abundant fodder to animals
and much more as well as more nutritious
hav. rendered it possible 10 increase stock
on land. They have the title of discover
+ ing the use of that valuable article clover,
a. well as many others of a like nature, aud
I both uaturalixed and improved upon them,
and Of having been the frs, to teach other
nations how to preserve cattle IN sound
condition through winter and TO banish dis
eases by the constant supply of wholesome,
fresh diet. Their cattle have long been
and still are among the very finest of Eu-
rope, aud their dairy products find ready
{ ale. not alone in England, but in CONT
ncutal countries. The cattle are exported
for breeding and dairy purposes. In their
garden produce they have carried the cui-
iivation Of vegetables, especially Of the
potato and turnip, to high state Of per
fectinB. and With valuable gain resulting,
since il Is siimaied that three tunes as
many V.s.t-itants nowadays cen live IN
comfort on the small extent of ground as
could be maintained without riSking sbso-
lnte dearth of food Improved agriculture
has been thoroughly developed twO-,hirds
Of the whole area OF land Is highly cnl,iva-
,ed-wheai, rye, oats, buekwhea; and bar
+ ley being principal produefs-there being
a total yield in grain crops Of forty millions
OF bushels. and. after one way or another,
every particlc Of the territory Is made to
furnish s5me means Of support aud profit.
The ooutemporaneoas Holhuders are slow
and methosiic. but they are by no means in
ehnsd to siumber or rest idle with 80 much
work roafronting them, - many urgent
nsS,ls requiring the closest vigilance, To
begin with the threatening waves Of the
ocean. which wonld cvcrwhelm then in a
general destruction without the existing
artificial barriers.
COMMERCE AND NANUFACTrEEs.
The chief commerce Of Holland Is ear
ried on with the two countries between
which il is located, viz Germany and In
gland. The trade with the latter averages
yearly. ia imports aud exports, about tive
hundred million dollars; much Of the i'm.
ports merely pass in transit for Germany
the exports being dairy products, together
with animals, heavy produce, &e.; fancy oI
light articles also passiug only in transit
from the Gerrnan Rhenish provinces tt
English ports. Among the dairy prodac,:
the Dutch cheese has an international rep
u,ation, being well aud solidly put up
though i; Is not 50 highly in demand as il
formerly was, because almost every Other
country has nowadays taken TO manuiae
turing cheese Of more varied brands L
suit its own particular consumption. Fish
ing Is much followed ON the coast, aud, {,
some extent, in deep sea waters, and tbs
sDuteh herrings' have large sale, Their
being a permanent demand for this speeia
Curing. a practice first made By the Dntcl
among European peoples The method
Of curing herrings which they discoveret
proved originally mine Of wealth in al
?, when the winter diet of most persons
was salted provisions, and when the churel
prescribed the eating of fish at divers state,
periods Of the year. The same method o
curing fish is practiced today, and the pro
duct is very much esteemed in German,
and Russia Skillfulness in fishing hrs
gave rise to that expertness in sailOrshil
which SO long distinguished the Dutch mar
liners. and those that now follow the busi
ness are good sailors. The linen of Hol
land is as good now as in the days when n,
. less an authority than Shakespeare mad
+ one of his characters acknowledge its pri
macy on the market. The Dutch woolei
cloths also once enjoyed supremacy in tn
English market when Dutch manufaetur
? ing towns were the sole consumers of En-
glish wool, but although in woolen cloth
, their manufacturers have been superseded
in linen they hold their old grouad som
OF the ndLlte Ol tilG NdittuS h4uNS VI tuA
cloth are taken from the provinces o
places in the province where made, service
able linen for clothing aud for table use pas
! sing still abroad by the generic nam
of Hollands diaper being the specia
= product of the town of D'ypres. Franc
buys largely of Holland linens. AmsteI
dam, with a population of $4,000, an
Rotterdam, with l75,000, have yer
solid trade, and the former is renowned 70
, the cutting and polishing of diamonds, o
which art it had at one time the exclusiy
monopoly in Europe. Some of the artist
workmanship once done in Holland, sue
as of astronomical, nautical, surgical instru
ments, has passed into other countries
where it is better done, and the presen
, rank in the line of the fine arts is YER
slim and hardly deserving notice, for tn
= people were never practically or artisticall.
! inclined. Dutch art at its highest stag
was rather crude imitation of nature, th
ready outcome from people practical be
fore all else, and addicted to looking down
ward to the solid earth for the supply o
! their wants.
! COLONIAL POSSESSION.
r In carrying on its commerce HOLLAND
has found an almost invaluable assistance