Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 10.djvu/377

* HUNGARY. 323 HUNGARY. sUuids in marked contrast to Austria, in that by tar the greater part of its surface consists ot geologically recent formations. The Great Flain, watered by the Danube and the Theiss, presents an almost unbroken surface of Qua- ternary and recent alluvial deposits, while the great northern and eastern mountain systems show a preponderance of Tertiary rocks on their surface. The Croatian and Slavonian highlands are of Jurassic and Triassic formation, and here also are the chief oulcroppings of the coal- measures. Archaean diabases and granites occur in western Transylvania, and along the entire southern slope of the Carpathian Mountains runs an extensive belt of volcanic rocks. The nuclear mass of the Carpathians is largely con- structed of granite. Hungary possesses a very considerable mineral wealth. There are great deposits of coal, iron, and salt; lead, copper, silver, and gold are found in various localities, the last mentioned chiellv along the rivers of Tiansylvania. Antimony, cobalt, nickel, mer- cury, and zinc also occur, and among the non- metallic minerals there are precious stones, ka- olin, marble, and porphyry. The Hungarian opal is particularly worthy of mention. It is only within recent limes that the wealth of coal and iron has begun to be ex|)loited on a large scale. The deposits of salt in the county of Marmaros. in the Eastern Carpathians, which are worked by the State, are practically inexhaustible. (See table, under Austria-Hungary.) There are hun- dreds of mineral springs scattered throughout Hungary, .mong the most celelirated are those at Tiitra-Kiired (Schmeks), in the Northern Carpathians, ilehfidia (Piaths of Hercules), near Orsova. and the Iron Gate of the Danube, and I'iired. on Lake Balaton, and Harkiny, near Fhnfkirehen ( Pi-cs ) . .Agriculture, Live Stock. Forests, etc. Hun- gary is jjreeminently 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, (hiring 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 ap|x>llation of the 'Kuro- pcnn Japan.' In J'espeet. 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 cultivators of the soil are independent land- owners. In 1895 48.5 per cent, of the total area (excluding properties consisting only of woods or pastiires) was included in holdings Avhich ranged in size from 5 to 100 acres. There are, however, a great many large estates belong- ing to the State and to members of the nobility, upon which the prevailing system of agriculture is very similar to that in vogue iipon the large English estates. The improvement in agriculture is largi>ly indebted to the activity of agricultural societies. The natural conditions are generally favorable to the industry, the great fertility of tlic soil being especially a marked feature of (he Hungarian plain. In some respects this plain is comparable to the Western prairies of the United States, luit, like that rt^gion, it is sub- ject t<i 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 variety, 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 0,500,000 acres (on an average) during the period ISSl to 1885 to 8,142,000 acres in I'.IOO, and has become greater than the com- bined acreage of rye, barley, and oats, which are about on a level with each other in im- portance. The increa.se 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 given to corn, 5,469,000 acres having been de- voted to its cultivation in 1900. A large va- riety of root crops an; 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 be found in the table under Aus- tria-Hungary. Vine culture is extensively car- ried on in the hilly districts, the Hungarian wines being the most superior known to the market. The most famous Hungarian wines are those that bear the name of Tokay. During the latter part of the nineteenth century the j'hylloxera devastated the Hungarian vineyard.s, and their area greatly decreased. From an aver- age of 367.300 hectares (907.747 acres) in the period 1881 to 1885 it decreased to 202.865 hec- tares (501,270 acres) in 1805, but had increased again in 1900 to 221.838 hectares (548.162 acres). Hungary has an extraordinary wealth of temperate-zone fruits. The grapes are unsur- passed in flavor, and the plums an<l watermelons are of an excellent quality. Apples. ]iears. cher- ries, etc.. are very extensively raised, and some semi-tropical fruits are cultivated in the south. Nuts are found in great variety. There is a considerable production of tobacco, but this is inidcr the monopoly of the Crown. The Hungarian horse, though not large, is in great demand in the European market, because of its endurance and swiftness. The superiority of the bree<l is due to the care of the (iovernnient, 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 Magj'ar 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 cattle. 7.526;- 783 sheep, 0,446.134 hogs, and 286.392 goats. As compared with the figures of the 1884 census, there was a decided increase in all varieties o'f live slock, e.xcepting sheep, the latter having sufl'ercd a large decrease. In some sections biitValoes 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 rivers of the coun- try are rich in fish, and thus contribute an im- portant item to the food-supply of the people. Manuf.'V.ctures. Since no duties can be col- lected upon the imports from .ustria. the Hun- garian manufacturing industries must compete with the longostablished and highly developed Austrian industries: but in spite of this, much progress has been recently made. The Govern-