AGRICULTURE, LIVE STOCK, FORESTS, ETC. Hun gary is preeminently an agricultural country, about three-fourths of the total population being included in the agricultural class. The country made marked progress. both in the extent of the industry and in respect to agricultural methods, during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. Indeed.the development recently made in this and in other phases of its economic life has won for the country the appellation of the 'Euro pean Japan.' In respect, therefore, to its agri cultural system, it belongs to Western Europe, and contrasts sharply with the adjoining regions to the east and south. A large majority of the cultivator; of the soil are independent land owners. In 1895 48.5 per cent. of the total area (excluding properties consisting only of woods or pastures) was included in holdings schieh ranged in size from 5 to 100 acres. There are, however. a great many large estate: belong ing to the State and to members of the nobility, upon which the system of agriculture is very similar to that in vogue upon the large English estates. The improvement in agriculture is largely indebted to the activity of agricultural societies. The natural conditions are generally favorable to the industry, the great fertility of the soil being especially a marked feature of the Hungarian plain. In seine respects this plain is comparable to the Western prairies of the United States, but. like that region, it is sub ject to an uncertain rainfall, and it contains considerable stretches of sandy, arid land as well as marshy tracts. which have never been brought under cultivation. While the products of the country are characterized by their great Hungary is best known for its pro duction of wheat, live stock (including horses), and wine, the first two entering the European markets in competition with American products. The area devoted to wheat increased from a little less than 6.5110,000 acres (on an average) during the period 18;1 to 18S3 to 8,142,000 acres in 1900, and has become greater than the com bined acreage of rye, barley, and oat:, which are about on a level with each other in im portance. The increase in the area devoted to wheat was principally in the sandy and pre viously uncultivated tracts of Central and South ern Hungary. Increased attention is also being to corn, 5.469,000 acres having been de
voted to its cultivation in 1900. A large va riety of root crops are grown, of which the po tato leads in importance. followed by beets. much less than half of the latter crop being sugar beets. The yield of the principal agricultural staples will lie found in the table under Aus TmA-IIUNGARY. Vine culture is extensively car ried on in the hilly districts. the Ilmmarian wines being the most superior known to the market. The most fatuous Hungarian wines are those that hear the name of Tokay. During the latter part of the nineteenth century the phylloxera devastated the Hungarian vineyards. and their area greatly decreased. From an aver age of 367.360 hectares (907.747 acres) in the period 1831 to 1885 it decreased to 202.S65 hec tares (501.279 acres) in 1893, but had increased again in 1900 to 221,S3S hectares (548.162 acres). Hungary has an extraordinary wealth of temperate-zone fruits. The grapes are unsur passed in Mayor. and the plums and watermelons arc of an excellent quality. Apples. pears. cher ries, etc., are very extensively raised, and sonic semi-tropieal fruits are cultivated in the south. Nuts are found in great variety. There is a considerable production of tobacco. but this is under the monopoly of the Crown.
The Tlum:4arian horse. though not large, is in great demand in the European market. because of its endurance and swiftness. The superiority of the breed is due to the care of the Government, which selects and owns most of the stallions kept in the country. The fondness of the Hungarian for horses is well expressed in the saying, "The Magyar was created on a horse." The number of horses in 1895 was 1.972.930. In the same year there were 5.829,483 head of eattle. 7.526. 783 sheep. 6,446.134 hogs. and 286.392 goats.
eompared with the figures of the 1884 census. there was a decided increase in all varieties cif live stock, excepting sheep, the latter having suffered a large decrease. In some sections buffaloes are used in considerable numbers in tillage. The Hungarian oxen are characterized by the extraordinary spread of their horns. The principal forest area is in the Carpathian _Mountains. and consists of forests of beech, oak, and pine. The numerous of the coun try are rich in fish, and thus contribute an im portant item to the food-supply of the people.