. The earth and its inhabitants ... Geography. AGRICULTUEE. 359 A considerable portion of tlie northern plain is naturally unproductive,* and it required all the persevering energy of the sturdy Prussian peasantry to subdue this stubborn soil. About 48"0 per cent, of the total area is arable land, 17"7 per cent, meadows and pastures, and 25-5 per cent, forests. The latter constitute a considerable source of wealth, and their preservation is in some measure due to the multiplicity of small sovereigns who formerly shared the covmtry, every one of whom was bent upon having his game pres
. The earth and its inhabitants ... Geography. AGRICULTUEE. 359 A considerable portion of tlie northern plain is naturally unproductive,* and it required all the persevering energy of the sturdy Prussian peasantry to subdue this stubborn soil. About 48"0 per cent, of the total area is arable land, 17"7 per cent, meadows and pastures, and 25-5 per cent, forests. The latter constitute a considerable source of wealth, and their preservation is in some measure due to the multiplicity of small sovereigns who formerly shared the covmtry, every one of whom was bent upon having his game preserves. The forests are managed with great skill in Fig. 207.—Increase of the Urban Population of Germany. According to Hasse. 5" E of Pans. Non-German Decrease. Tncrense Increase Increase Increase Countries. up to 12-5 p. c. 12-5 to 25 p. c. 25 to 50 p. c. over 50 p. c. Germany, and their favourable influence upon climate and drainage is justly appreciated. Rye is the principal cereal crop cultivated, and not only the peasants, but also a considerable proportion of the town population eat rye bread, or bread made of a mixture of rye and wheat. Pumpevnickel, one of the heaviest kinds of bread in existence, is even esteemed a great delicacy. In former years Germany exported corn, but it is now no longer able to supply its own wants, and imports not only rye, but also wheat, barley, and oats, as well a^ cattle, horses, and other agricultural produce. Only potatoes, sheep, and dairy produce form articles of * In Prussia 28-67 per cent, of the total area consists of clayey soil ; 32-11 per cent, of loam; 30-81 per cent, of sand ; 636 per cent, of swamps; 2-0Ô per cent, of water. t The average annual produce of Germany has been estimated at 11,793,000 quarters of wheat, 5,108,000 of spelt, 32,626,000 of rye, 10,417,000 of harlcy, 29,920,000 of oats, and 93,541,000 of Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been di
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