222
Agricultdre on the Rhine.
especially the case in Baden, where there is a very
wealthy peasantry. As, however, the population in-
creases faster than the profits in agriculture can follow,
there is no prospect for any country that depends solely
on agriculture but that of increasing poverty ; and it is
clearly to be wished for our Rhenish neighbours that
other sources of employment could spring up with the
growth of their active youths and maidens. They will
certainly be gainers when they cease to measure the
respect to which a man is entitled exclusively by the
broad acres that he happens to possess, and begin to cal-
culate the various other sources of wealth that are placed
by a benignant Providence at their command. We
mentioned in a former chapter, that various contracts on
joint account for the keep of cattle occur in the Rhenish
districts. Occasionally a cowr is kept by the owner of a
stable for the milk and one of the first two calves that
fall. The following is a contract made between Count
Gbrlitz, of Schlitz, in the grand Duchy of Hesse, and his
head shepherd. The entire management of the flocks
is left to him, and three men are given to him as assist-
ants, who have the right of grazing—the first 25 sheep,
the second 20 sheep, the third 15 sheep, Withtheirlambs.
The head shepherd receives wheat, rye, barley, peas, len-
tils, and fire-wood, delivered at his house, and spirits occa-
sionally. He has, besides, five beds for potatoes, one for
cabbages, two for flax, a small garden, and a cow. From the
flocks he receives three-fourths of the profits as his share ;
and if this share does not bring him the sum of 180 florins
or 15/., he is guaranteed a money payment of 2/. to make
good the deficiency. By this arrangement, his attention
to the improvement of the flock is secured. The shepherd
Agricultdre on the ruine. 223
is, moreover, intrusted with the care of folding in such a
manner as to manure thoroughly the lands appointed by
the land steward, who is bound to designate daily a spot
for the fold.
Similar calculations of the quantity of fodder consumed
by sheep in proportion to their size have been made to
those for oxen already noticed. According to these
the daily weight of hay or equivalents for sheep is—
|
Weight of |
Bare nou- |
Ewes suck- |
Sheep fat- |
|
50 lbs. |
1'25 lbs. |
1∙875 lbs. |
2∙375 lbs. |
|
75 „ |
1∙87 „ |
2∙875 „ |
3'562 „ |
|
IOO „ |
2∙50 „ |
3'750 „ |
4∙750 „ |
|
120 „ |
3∙- „ |
4∙5 „ |
5'7 ,„ |
|
150 „ |
3∙75 „ |
5∙5 „ |
7'125 „ |
|
The yield |
in wrashed wool |
is estimated |
as follows :— |
Fine and half Merinos 1⅛ lbs. to 3⅜ lbs.
Country Sheep . . 2 ,,4,,
Long-Woolledditto . 5 ,, 7 „
Late Winter Lambs .... ⅛ „
Early ditto ditto.....ɪ ,,
Summer ditto......1⅜ „
The change in the value of long wool in consequence
of the improved method of combing, has not much served
Germany, where the common sheep have very coarse
wool. It has, however, created a great change, inasmuch
as the Germans who long supplied us with fine wools,
have become dependent on us for long wool, of which a
great deal is now shipped from England to the Continent.
If our space allowed, we could add largely to the few
calculations of German scientific agriculturists that we
have given. The inquiring traveller will soon be led
from contemplating their results to consult the publica-
tions of these authorities, and will find them replete with
instruction.