204
Agricultube on the khine.
est with which the observer studies it. The disposition
to treat every farm and even every field individually as
regards rotation, crops, and manure, is nowhere more
strikingly evident than in the two Grand Duchies of
Hesse and Baden. If clearer views of the advantage
that might be drawn from this disposition on the part of
the small landowners could be formed and spread abroad,
the agricultural wealth of these districts would be great.
But here, as elsewhere, too much labour, capital, and
time are spent in procuring the necessaries of life ; and
both the government and the governed turn their atten-
tion too little to the fact that soil and climate here are
adapted to luxurious cultivation of the soil. To secure
the means of prosecuting the luxurious agriculture suited
to small allotments and a dense agricultural population,
in which the vineyard would find its place as a pro-
minent feature, means must be devised for cheapening
the cost of the food, the fuel, and the forage indispens-
able for the daily consumption of the people.
( 205 )
CHAPTER X.
The commencement of the beautiful part of the valley of
the Neckar is a common resting-place in a tour through
the Rhenish districts. Few travellers have time to
inquire into the causes of the celebrity of the University
of Heidelberg ; but all can feel the majestic beauty of its
ruined castle leaning against its green background of
forest-clad hill, and reflected in the bright waves of the
rushing Neckar. We choose, therefore, this charming
spot for a survey of the agriculture of the Upper Rhine,
which, from Bingen onward, has maintained a constant
character that will be found to continue to the foot of the
Alps. The leading feature of the system of tillage
found throughout is, as we before observed, a minute
study of the position, soil, and other capabilities of every
separate field, as well as of the markets, near and distant,
where the produce has to be sold. Where these primary
conditions are found to be similar on several farms, a
Iiketreatment of cropswill be found to prevail. The
mode of tillage is generally such as is recommended by
agricultural authorities, and (under the limitations that
we have all along noted of minutely divided and scat-
tered lands, as well as low prices arising from over
competition) will be found satisfactory. If the crops are
not so abundant as fine soils and a propitious climate
would induce us to expect, it must not be forgotten that