El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-26
SOLDIERS ARE
TAUGHT HOW
To FARM
Germany Plans to Use Them
on Farms When Enlist
ments Expire.
DISEASED CATTLE
CUTS MEAT SUPPLY


Berlin. Germany. Aug 26.-Far-
reaching experiments are being made
in the German army in teaching the
soldiers both practical and theoretical
farming during their service In the
ranks. Many Of the soldiers, even
those from the cities, become so IN
terested that when they have finished
their term they take advantage Of a
law passed some years ago, by which
they are enabled to purchase small
plots of land by the payment in ready
money of a quarter Of its value In
this way 1t Is hoped to stem the rush
of people from the agricultural dis
trfcts to the cities, which has caused
So much anxiety to the authorities OF
recent years
Aids Land Sales.
The Prussian state itself sells mucn
of it's reclaimed moor lands in this
manner in plots, ranging from half an
acre to % acres. It charges interest al
the rate of only 3 1-2 percent on three
quarters Of the purchase money, and
also advances money for the erection
of houses and barns. The tenant may
paw off as much as he likes every
year, and after a certain NUMBER OF
years the property becomes his own
In some instances larger plots OF
land are acquired from private own
ers by the state and laid out in con-
tiguous small farms, which are solo
in a similar manner to farm laoorers.
These. by system OF cooperative
working. are entitled to cultivate their
land at a much cheaper rate than IL
they were working alone. The Idea OF
the gradual purchase system is spread
ing rapidly through the government
efforts and many rural districts, hith-
erto sparseIy populated and poorly cul-
tiyated. are becoming thriving agricui-
tural centers.
The government has appointed 100
commissioners to assist IN the pur-
chase of real estate by ex-soldiers and
thrifty workers
Meat Supply Threatened.
The hoof and mouth disease Is now
making such ravages among German
flocks that even the Agrarfan organs
admit that the meat supply Of the
country is seriously threatened An
official report Of the imperial govern
ment dated July 81, shows that 31.e26
farms. located in 4S0S different dis
sricts are affected. One result o. the
spread of the disease has been a re-
duction of the number OF cattle in the
country.
ports the number of all live stock, ex-
cept swine. brought to market this
year has been smaller than In 1910
It is claimed by the Agrarian news
papers that the disease was brought
into Germany in June. 1910. from Rus
STA. and that, despite the rigorous pre-
cautionary measures of the authori-
ties, it has spread TO its present pro-
portions in the brief space Of one year.
Just now the meat supply is further
threatened by the certainty that all
sorts Of animal food products will be
scarce and high
The grass crop has been greatly
damaged by the protracted heat and
drouth of the spring and summer The
potato crop also. it is feared. will be
much shorter than usual; and this
means much for the meat supply, since
the waste of potato alcohol distiller-
les is one of the principal feeding ma
terials for fattening livestock. The
oats crop has also been seriously in
jured by adverse weather conditions.
Exodus Decreases.
The number of emigrants leaving the
German North Sea ports this year Is
much less than in 1910 For the. first
seven months Of the year Hamburg re-
ported a reduction of $4,000 in total
of 4s.73S. The causes assigned for the
lighter outgo this year are in part the
unfavorable business situation in the
United States and the more rigid ap-
p1ication of the American immigration
laws Another cause. however, is evil
IDENTIFY the prosperous condition of the
chief countries that now supply the
bulk of the immigrants into the United
States.
This year Germany itself is feeling
very keenly the shortage in the supply
of Russian farm laborers, due to the
fact that Russia is now enjoying I'M
usual prosperity, wages have been
raised. and the people are consequent
" staying at home. The shortage Of
Russian laborers has amounted to the
proportions of a calamity for the farm
ers in the eastern German provinces.
Fewer Galicians and Hungarian labor
ers, too, are coming into Germany this
year, owing to more prosperous times
in these countriesy the same thing is
true in regard to Italy,
To Try American Trout.
German anglers have decided to try
the experiment of stocking their
streams with American trout, and for
this purpose a consignment of 100, 600
rainbow trout eggs from Creed. in Col
orado, recently arrived in Cuxhaven.
1t was found that the trout In the
German rivers had been degenerating
for several years, in spite of careful
preservation, and the provincial au-
thorities of western Germany, who
have established a piscatorial inst!-
tute at Adenau, decided to INTRODUCES
fresh blood from the American rivers.
The eggs, which came over packed in
ice. arrived in splendid condition and
are to be placed in the rivers immedf<
ately.