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Agricultural and Woodland Statistics of Germany.-According to the latest agricultural census of Germany, taken in 1895, there existed then in the Empire 5,558,317 farming establishments. Of these there were 3,236,367 containing 5 acres or less of land. Of all farming acreage 61.1 per cent was planted in farinaceous cereals— grain, beans, peas, etc. There were 69, 393,000 plum trees, 52, 332,000 apple trees, 25, 116,000 pear trees, and 21,548,000 cherry trees. Statistics for the tobacco culture show that 41,658 acres were planted with tobacco in 1901 in Germany, producing 40,018 metric tons of dried tobacco leaf. In the official count of 1900 the area covered by forests in Germany aggregated 34,989,672 acres, of which 17,443,188 acres belonged to the States and municipalities. These, as also the woodlands of private individuals, are kept in a high state of scientific cultivation, as the preservation of forests is considered to be a matter of great importance for economic and hygienic reasons. Simon W. Hanauer, Deputy Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, August 8, 1903.

German Freight Cars.-The carrying capacity of the average German freight car is from 10 to 15 metric tons. Recently the Vereinigte Königs und Laurahütte Aktiengesellschaft für Bergbau und Hüttenbetrieb, one of the greatest manufacturing and industrial establishments of the Empire, received an order from the Prussian State railways for 200 freight cars, each of 20 metric tons capacity. The railroad authorities are now discussing whether it will be wise to still further increase the car capacity. While they are busy investigating the subject and gathering statistics relating thereto, it has been decided to have a few cars, each of 30 tons carrying capacity, constructed, in order to make a practical test as well.-Brainard H. Warner, jr., Consul, Leipzig, Germany, August 6, 1903.

Mail Matter in Care of Consuls.-Mail matter, such as registered letters, matter of declared value, money orders, and ordinary packages intended by travelers, seamen, etc., to be received by the addressees at the consulate of their country, lacking the words "Zu Haenden des," "abzugeben an," "fuer," and "unter" (per) "'adresse des," as well as the words "aux soins de" (care of) and "pour remittre à," will, according to the post-office regulations, be delivered. to the consul-general, consul, or other qualified official representative. The omission of these words is considered to occur through ignorance of the post-office regulations or to oversight on the part of the senders, and the Federal Post-Office Department of Germany has therefore decided that in cases where in addition to the name of the addressee only the name of the consulate is added, without any

of the above-mentioned words, the mail matter shall be delivered to the consular officer without further formalities other than the customary receipt by him.-Richard Guenther, Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, August 1, 1903.

German Bristle Trade.-The summer bristle sale may be said to have closed last week. There were large quantities of bristles bought outright and many orders were placed for future delivery. The buyers who purchased in largest quantities were from England, France, and the United States. About the usual quantity was bought by German dealers. The prices still remain high for all kinds and qualities; even the soft grades of bristles were greatly in demand. The prospects are that bristle dealers will have another very satisfactory year. The next bristle sale will take place in Leipzig, in September, 1903, beginning on the 13th of the month.Brainard H. Warner, jr., Consul, Leipzig, Germany, July 20, 1903.

Reduction of German Cable Rates to the Orient.-The Imperial German Post and Telegraph Department recently issued an order reducing the cable rates for messages to China, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, and the Philippines on and after July 15, 1903. It now costs to send messages to the following countries, per word not exceeding fifteen letters:

These rates are for messages via Emden, Vigo, Vladivostock, and Nagasaki. It is further announced by the postal authorities that after July 15, 1903, the use of cable codes may again be resumed in sending messages to Spain. Cablegrams for Honduras, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia will only be sent at the sender's risk.—Brainard H. Warner, jr., Consul, Leipzig, Germany, July 21,

1903.

Cost of German Public Elementary Schools.-The cost of public elementary schools of the German Empire is 415,198,000 marks ($98,817,124) per year. Of this sum the States contribute 120,357,000 ($28,644,966). The cost of the public elementary schools of the

different German States is smallest in the principality of SchaumburgLippe, with 213,000 marks ($50,694), the State contributing 34,000 marks ($8,092). In the principality of Waldeck the total cost is 359,ooo marks ($85,442), of which the State pays 107,000 marks ($25,466). Bavaria expends 39,800,000 marks ($9,472,400), the share of the State being 14,200,000 marks ($3,379,600); Saxony, 34,300,000 marks ($8,163,400), the State paying of this sum 4,800,000 marks ($1,142,400); Wurttemberg, 12,300,000 marks ($2,927,400), of which the State pays 3,800,000 marks ($904,400); Baden, 11,000,000 marks ($2,618,000), the State's share being 2,400,000 marks ($571,200). In Prussia the State contributed 73,066,000 marks ($17,389,708), the total cost being 269,917,000 marks ($64, 240, 246). The share of the States of the whole German Empire for the support of the public. elementary schools was 28.98 per cent; in the Kingdom of Prussia the State contributed 27.6 per cent; in the eastern provinces of Prussia, between 40 and 50 per cent; in the western provinces, only a little over 20 per cent; and in the capital, Berlin, only 2.39 per cent. Richard Guenther, Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, July 22, 1903.

Regulating Unfair Competition in Germany.

The committee on trade and commerce of the German Bundesrath has for some time been at work framing a bill to make laws which will further tend to prevent unfair competition. The material and data which it has in hand were furnished by tradesmen and merchants from all parts of the Empire. It is expected that the draft of the bill will soon be made public. It is said that under the new laws the "closing-out-sale business" will be prohibited.—Brainard H. Warner, jr., Consul, Leipzig, Germany, July 20, 1903.

Prices of German Yarns and Thread.-At a meeting of the German cotton spinners, held at Gladbach on July 10, 1903, it was decided to immediately reduce the price of cotton yarns 0.00216 cent per pound. Many spinning mills have curtailed their output, hoping in this way to avoid the necessity for any further reduction of prices. At a meeting of the German thread manufacturers, held at Dresden on June 29, it was decided that on and after July 1, 1903, the prices of all threads should be advanced 10 per cent. The reason given for this advance was the high price of cotton.-Brainard H. Warner, jr., Consul, Leipzig, Germany, July 20 and 21, 1903.

Practical Medicine in Germany.-It is reported that the city. of Düsseldorf will soon have the first academy for practical medicine in Germany, and it will be in connection with the new hospital to be As director of the academy, the Kultus Ministry has proposed the name of Professor Witzel, of the University of Bonn; other professors of Bonn are expected to be called to the academy. The Kultus Ministry has also the establishment of more such academies under consideration. The one at Düsseldorf is for the Rhine Provinces and Westphalia. Frankfort is to have one for southern Germany, Breslau for eastern Germany, Magdeburg or Halle for middle Germany, and Berlin for northern Germany. While the academy at Düsseldorf has been definitely agreed upon, the others are only under consideration.-Richard Guenther, Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, July 22, 1903.

Petroleum in Greece.-Minister J. B. Jackson reports from Athens, Greece, July 16, 1903, that he is authoritatively informed that the future of the trade in American petroleum in Greece is not in danger, as no other country can compete with the United States either in quality or price. Efforts are being made to induce the Government to obtain its supply from other than American sources. It has long been known, continues the minister, that naphtha is to be found in the island of Zante, but past investigations have not led to a belief that the fields could be worked profitably. An English company has now the intention to go into the matter seriously and has been negotiating with the Government to that end.

Technical Schools in Russia.- The German papers state that the Russian Government will incorporate in its next appropriation bill a much larger sum for the support of technical schools than heretofore. The branches of instruction in machine building and electrical mechanics are to be especially favored.—Simon W. Hanauer, Deputy Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, July 23, 1903.

Urging Lower Duties on Cotton and Cotton Yarns in Russia. Manufacturing and exporting circles in Russia urge the Government to reduce the import duties on cotton and cotton yarns in order to enhance domestic consumption of cotton goods and to increase the exportation of same to Asiatic countries which now are mainly supplied by England, the United States, Japan, and other industrial countries.-Simon W. Hanauer, Deputy Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, July 23, 1903.

No 277-03- 12

Chinese Warehouses in Russia.

The results of the excursion of Chinese merchants to European Russia, mentioned in a former report from this commercial agency, is seen in the determination to open warehouses for Chinese products at St. Petersburg and MosCOW. They will bring their native commercial agents and business staffs along. The shops will be built in Chinese style. From St. Petersburg and Moscow branch establishments are proposed at Warsaw, Wilna, Helsingförs, Riga, Kief, and Odessa.-Richard T. Greener, Commercial Agent, Vladivostock, Siberia, May 28, 1903.

Emigration from Finland to the United States. In his annual report, dated July 20, 1903, on the foreign commerce of Finland for the year 1902, Acting Consul Victor Ek, of Helsingförs, Finland, says that in the seventies, in East Finland, with its more active inhabitants, an inclination to emigrate manifested itself, although the emigration then was not of any particular extent. The beginning of the eighties shows a sudden increase in emigration, wherein a good many young men, 20 years and thereabouts, were represented. From this it was presumable that fears of being called into active military service was the chief motive for their leaving the country, but as soon as experience was gained and people got accustomed to the law the fears were dispersed, and in 1884 the number of emigrants went down to a minimum. It rose again in the years 1892 and 1893, in consequence of a failure of the crops, but from the year 1899 a new wave, higher than ever before, was rising. The emigration since then was as follows: In 1899, 12,537; in 1900, 10,397; in 1901, 1,256; and in 1902, 22,000.

Siberian Butter Trade.-In February there was a convention at Tomsk of those engaged in the butter business in western Siberia. The main point discussed was the method of extending the butter export to Dalny, Port Arthur, and the ports of China. Mr. Sakharoff, representative of the Chinese Eastern Railway, stated that there was a strong and constant demand for Siberian butter in East Asia and China. This demand would certainly increase, and steps must be taken to meet the demand. Hitherto Australian butter had been popular in the Far East, but a series of dry seasons had nearly stopped this export. Siberians must avail themselves of this opportunity and supply the deficiency. The ruling prices in eastern markets were very favorable. Vladivostock consumes annually about 60,000 poods (2,160,000 pounds) of butter at prices. ranging from 20 to 24 rubles per pood (30 to 34 cents per pound)