The name is absent

AGRICULTURE OK THE RHINE.

he had let out. The approach to the house was between
shelving pieces of land which formed a bottom ; the
house stood near a running stream. This land appeared
to us sadly to want draining, but we were assured that it
only bore this appearance in a wet season like 1845.
The remark has undoubtedly but relative truth. That
draining will not pay with the present corn prices in any
part of the Continent, we believe. We equally believe
that without it such wheat crops as are raised in England
cannot be obtained. The query to solve appears to be,
therefore, whether such dear wheat crops, as are evi-
dently a public grievance, can be a private benefit. In
Westphalia, at least, no one is of that opinion, and good
farmers would regret the necessity of turning their atten-
tion exclusively to grain, to the exclusion of crops that
pay better.

In the counties of Mark and Bcrg the corn prices are
the highest of all Germany. The official accounts show
that wheat in 1842 averaged 85 gros per scheffel, or
42s. 6(Z. per quarter, in Elberfeld and the neighbour-
hood, while in Minden and Paderborn adjacent the aver-
age was 73s. gros per scheffel, or 57s. 6rZ. per quarter.
This difference throws indeed a strong light on the state
of the roads in the more remote parts of Westphalia, but
perhaps the passive silence of the landowners of the
Bishopric of Paderborn under such an infliction is best
explained by the fact, that the district looks especially to
flax as the paying crop. In the neighbourhood of the
Ruhr corn is therefore most cultivated, but of course
divides the field only with fodder for cows and for fat-
tening stock,—the characteristic signs of a populous
neighbourhood.

The farm at which we spent the most time while here,

AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE.

had an extent of 400 morgens, or 250 acres, of which 41
morgens, or 22 acres, were underwood. Six horses and
twenty cow^,s and heifers, all at grass in meadows skirting
the little stream, formed the chief stock. The number of
human assistants appeared out of all proportion. Thirty-
five men and women were in constant employment, and
in the harvest-time Imlpwas Soughtfrom strangers. The
owner pointed to an outhouse where both sexes lived pro-
miscuously, and declared himself unable to answer for the
morals of his labourers, whom we, of course without refer-
ence to their immorality, termed his “ Irishmen.” The
resemblance was indeed too striking not to excite sym-
pathy. They were peasants from the heart of Westphalia,
and spoke low German, a dialect that is neither in use for
writing nor for conversation amongst the educated classes.
Thus cut off from the means open to others of obtaining
information, their land for centuries untraversed by roads,
and under strict clerical rule, the appearance of these poor
labourers was fully explained in the thriving neighbour-
hood that lies so near their impoverished homes.* But
a more useful hint may be taken from the labourers of
Bielefeld, for from that far-famed linen district they came.
Hand-loom w^τeaving is the main occupation of the work-
ing people, and hand-spinning prevails throughout all the
flax district of Westphalia. No one has had” sufficient
enterprise to establish a flax-mill in those parts, and the
poor workmen are left unaided to contend against the
improved machinery that everywhere surrounds them.
Γhe flax district lies too far to the north to be entitled to

The wages of these labourers is 8 gros, or 10<7., per day
for men ; and 6 gros, or Td., for women.

<<   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   >>

More intriguing information