154
Agkicultuke on the Rhine.
promptness and persevering activity than we were accus-
tomed to amongst the mountaineers.
The large towns here draw off some hands from the
land, but the effects of trade, although we are again on
the high road of Europe, are not so perceptibly bene-
ficial as we found them on the lower Rhine. The
territories of the old Electorate of Treves still betray
the effects of church-government and of the good old
times, when the object was to make people suit themselves
and their wants to certain forms and customs, instead of
proclaiming the subserviency of all forms and modes of
cultivation to the well-being of man himself.
One natural result of this circumstance is that estates
are here met with in larger allotments than are com-
mon on the middle Rhine. Here, as in Westphalia,
a number of estates belonging to clerical foundations,
and which were kept of moderate size by those corpora-
tions, passed in this form at the period of the confiscations
into the hands of private owners. Farms of 250 to 300
morgens (155 to 187 acres) are here frequent, still more
numerous are those of 120 to 180 morgens, although
small possessions are frequent of 20 morgens (12 acres)
and less amongst the villagers. The larger farms are
compact, and mostly surround or are adjacent to the
dwelling-house. The small holdings are scattered in all
directions, the natural consequence of the village system
that has been described.
The soil between Andernach and Coblentz is com-
posed of the sand of volcanic origin carried down from
the heights by the mountain streams, but mixed with the
deposits of frequent floods that cover the lower parts,
leaving good stuff on the poor soils, but covering the
Aghicxjltube on the bhine.
155
fields where the soil has been made by cultivation, with
matter that gives the farmer a great deal of his ¼rork to
do over again. As we leave the Rhine the volcanic sand
predominates, especially in the strip at the foot of the
hills, called the “ Mayfield,” between Mayen and Miin-
stermayen. In the hilly region, to which we must re-
turn when speaking of the vineyards, the prevalence of
lava and basalt makes the soil ditficult to plough, and
condemns large tracts to the condition of poor pastures.
On these large flocks of sheep are kept, numbering 500,
600, and sometimes 900 head. Some time back it was
the fashion to cultivate the Merino cross ; but the loss
that ensued when the rot and other diseases ran through
an expensive flock, discouraged the small farmers, and
made them leave things as they were. The sheep
the traveller finds here present, therefore, the strangest
mixture, from high-bred Merinos to the common moun-
tain breed yielding small weight of carcase, and short
although coarse wool, of which the fleece runs from
2 lbs. to 3' lbs. in weight. On the larger farms good
management of manures is frequently to be found. The
volcanic soil is well limed by diligent farmers. Com-
post heaps, on which especially the liquid manure is
poured, are also common. For green manures, soiling of
rye, lupins and buckwheat are used, the last named plant
being allowed to flower before it is ploughed in. It is
probable that this good system of manuring partly owes
its origin to the care of the former government of the
last Elector Palatine, who freed lime, marl, and manure
of all kinds from tolls upon the high-roads, of which he
was likewise an active promoter. The outlay in ready
money fur turnpike toll is often a greater sacrifice for a