INDUSTRIES. The principal industry is agri culture, the soil being for the most part well adapted for farming. The land is divined into small holdings, as shown by the fact that out of the 133.840 holdings in the year 1895, over 59.000 contained less than 2Ig acres each, and about 9400 holdings contained over 25 acres each. Over 64 tier cent. of the area is under cul tivation. There is 31 per cent. in invest, more one-third is State property. The forests constitute an important source of income producing wealth. About one-half of the total area is arable, and one-eighth is in meadows and pastures. live, barley, wheat, and oats are cultivated. Hay and potatoes are produced in large quantities, and fruit is extensively grown. 'HIV cultivation Of the vine, together with the production of tine wines, is a Very important industry. not only in Rhine-Ilesse, but on the slopes of the Odenwald. There were about :-±2,500 acres in and turnips in I900. Agriculture is promoted actively by Government board of agriculture at Darmstadt, by numerous associations. and excellent agrietd tural schools which instruct in all branches of farming, fruit-growing, etc. Fishing. and hunt ing yield well commercially. Stock raising as a separate industry can hardly be said to exist. In 1900 there were 59,091 horses, 330,079 cattle, 82,360 sheep. 124.790 goats, and 312,s99 hogs.
The mining region of Ilesse is found chiefly in the northern part, produces coal. iron. and salt. In 1900 the mined minemls amounted to $171.000. and salt $125,000. The total of these products. together with those of the smelt ing-works and foundries, was about $2,5254100, the persons engaged numbering 3737. Peat is an important output, and Ilainstailt-am-Alain ex ports famous clays. The manufaeturing indus tries are generally in a prosperous condition. Hesse is known for its manufaetu•es of leather and leather goods. Other chief manufacturing products are tobacco and cigars, metal articles, paper. sugar. chemicals. spirits, etc. There were five sugar-factories in 1901. The province has many handicraft schools and courts of trade.
CoMNIERCE Axtt Ties Nsronr.vrioN. The trade of Ilesse is of considerable importance. and is favored by many organizations and industrial 1.anks, as well as by the ventral position of the
grand duchy and the excellent transportation facilities. The exports consist mainly of agri cultu•al and manufactured products; the chief imports are raw and half-linished The river commerce is extensive. including nmeh Belgian and Dutch trade. There are over 700 miles of railway. nearly all owned by Ilesse, Prussia, and Baden.
Govtitxmyyr AND FINANer.. The government is that of a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The Grand Duke is very largely dependent. on the civil list. which amounts to about $300.000. The Constitution was adopted in 1S20, and has been repeatedly modified. The executive power lies in a responsible Ministry of three members. who are the heads of the departments of the Interior, .Justice. and Finance. The Minister of the In terior is president of the Ministry. and is the "Alinister of Foreign Affairs and of the Ducal Douse. The legislative power is rep resented by two Chambers. The Upper Chamber is composed of all the prince.: of the house. the head: of several made families, the Roman Catholic bishop, a Protestant church dignitary, the chan cellor of the University of Giessen, the repre sentatives of the landed nobility, and not over twelve life members nominated by the Grand Duke. The Lower Chamber consists of ten members elected by the large municipalities and forty members returned by the small towns and rural communities. The Members of the Lower Chamber are elected indirectly for six ? l'a The Chambers meet each tear. The three pro\ iliceS are (I I Videil into eighteen circles. The provinces and circles have local cowl( ifs elected by it restricted suffrage. 'fife duchy is repro :salted by three members in the German Itundes rat, and returns nine members to the Reichstag. The Midget for 1901.02 was estimated at about $•0.000.000. The chief of re%enne are limn public domains, lottery, Imperial customs. and direct taxes. The chief articles of I•X ture are fur the Department of the Interior, lottery, service of the debt, and contributions of the Empire. The public debt amounted in 1901 to about $74,000,000, nearly all incurred for railways.