The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-12
Not as Mere Personal Hobby. but
With Object of Benehting
Native Land.
by La nARauIsE DE FoNrrsAuy.

\ LTHoUdH there are plenty of
IL monarchs and princes of the
blood who maintain model
farms. yet since the days OF George III.
OF Great Britain. who was Justly nick
named the Farmer King, there have
been but three members or tho SOW
ereign houses OF Europe who have
made a particular study Of agriculture.
not mere personal hobby. hut with
the object of beneHting their native
lard.
One Of them is the present Prince
Regent Of Bavaria, who. ever since he
received in the War of 1856 against
Prussia the severe wound that pre-
vented him from continuing an active
military career, has devoted himself to
scientific agriculture. and is to-day re-
nowned as the leading expert on all
matters connected with agriculture of
the entire German empire
The second is King Victor Emmanuel
of Italy. who. prior To his accession to
the throne. and when in command of
the military district Of Naples caused
the troops under his orders to be
taught the rudimcnts of scientific farm
ing. and To devote almost as much time
To agricultural training as to soldier
ing. He knew that most of them were
drawn from agricultural districts. and
realized that when they completed their
term of service with the colors and re-
turned 10 their villages their useful
ness ms citizens would bo Increased :,
hundred fold, If. in addition to a mill
tary education. they possessed agrlcul-
tural knowledge. which they could
turn to good account In their pursuit
OF livelihood. BY his direction. they
were taught blowing, narrowing. the
rotation OF crops. the relative value Of
the different manurcs. irrigation, etc
ana when they returned home were
able to impart these things that they
had learned to their relatives and
nciglbors.
The third prince OF the blood to de-
vote himself to agriculture is Eric OF
Denmark. tho third of tho sons OF
admiral Prince Waldcnar, and OF his
wife, tho late Princess Marie of Rour-
bon Orleans, daughter OF that Due de
Chartrcs, who served ON the staff OF
General Mcclellan during the War OF
the Union In America. He Is :, tail.
sta!wart youth OF about twenty three
and. ms his eldest brother has selected
the army. and his second brother, Axcl.
the navy. for a profession he deter
mined 10 take up that Of farming,
which is one of tho staple Industries
OF Denmark. md one of the most i'm
portant sources OF her prosperity, her
ecNport trade OF agricultural and farm
produce being enormous, compared to
her size and population.
II is for the purpose of pursuing his
studies in this connection that this IA
vorite nephew OF Queen Alexandra has
now settled down IN England for q
six months stay on n large farm in
OXfordshire owned by one of that gen
tleman- farmer class which in no coun
gee % 1Na r1t.
England. The gentleman farmer in
question is an Oxford graduate has
had a thoroughly scientific training.
and has some money Of his own. but
has no other ambition than TO shine,
like his ancestors before him, In the
role OF a farmer on the
farm and broad acres which have been
in the possession OF his family for gem
crations
prince Eric is wholly unassuming.
and the outdoor life which lie has been
leading for the last two years has
served to develop him into a singu-
laIly fire. we'll set-up specimen of
Scandinavian manhood. 1t is by no
means impossible that while In Eng
land a marriage may be arranged he
tween him and either the young
Duchess of Fife or hor sister, Prin-
cess Maud Their relationship is not
too close. seeing that they nre but see
very rich, and her younger sister well
lowered. Prince Eric will be fairly
we'll off as one OF the heirs of his
dead mothers French wealth.
The young DUO de Plaisance, who
has just passed away In sanatorium
at Paris, so shortly after attaining his
majority. was member of the great
French ducal house of De Maiile and
owed his title OF Due de Plaisance to
the fact that his grandfather, Count
Armand do Mnille. had married Jeanne
Lebrun. only child of Jules Lebrun,
second Due do Plaisance. The first
duke was that Charles Lebrun who,
after being deputy to the States Cen
eral prior to the great Revolution, and
later member OF the Council' of Five
Hundred. was elected third consul
when Napoleon became first consul
When Napoleon proclaimed himself
Emperor in 1904, he created Lebrun
Duke of .Plaisance and arch treasurer
OF the empire, subsequently naming