Districts.

tend to add to the unfavorable result of the year. To this belongs the meager summer grazing, which has diminished in a high degree the yield of the dairies, immediate in part and partly also from their having demanded extra fodder supplies both in the spring, owing to the lateness when the cattle were turned out, as also during the summer, owing to the growth after the first grazing was so small that it scarcely afforded sufficient nourishment for the cattle. Next, the small yield of the grain crops, which, added to the very small crop, caused much anxiety in many farms on account of the small stocks of fodder stuff, and has thus called for immediate outlays for extra foddering descriptions; and, finally, the decreased quality of the straw, as well as grain, from the rainfall during harvest time, which, perhaps, in the greatest degree, makes the differ ence in the years 1880 and 1881 stand forward so distinctly. One light point is to be found in this dark picture, and that is the good prices of the different products. In this respect 1881, on the whole, stands well, and especially the good grain prices in the autumn will help in a marked degree to make some amends for the defects of harvest in respect to its yield. It is, however, evident that 1881 may be regarded as a most serious year for the country's agricultural interests. Fortunately there is a strong resisting power present in Denmark's chief branch of trade, so that it is well able to ride out such a storm like one year's unfavorable harvest.

Tabular summary of districts in which the harvest has been above or below the average, (Average is represented by 1.)

HUMIDITY OF EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR 1881.

The meteorological year (December, 1880, to November 30), as per subjoined table, has on an average been considerably colder than usual, whereas the entire rain nearly reached the normal. There have, however, been considerable many vibrations in the monthly mean temperature as well as in the rainfall. It may be observed that, with regard to warmth, the weather has been very unfavorable during the four months January-April, but the summer also shows a lower average temperature; only December, May, and November came up to the usual average warmth; and the last month of the year was comparatively the

Millimeter. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar Apr May June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

mildest. Still greater deviations from the normal show, as it is natural, the rainfalls in the single months. Notwithstanding that the rainfall for the whole year has nearly been as great as is usually the case this holds only approximately good, with respect to the months, about four at the highest, whereas five have considerable under and three much over the usual. The unfortunate distribution in the rainfall has often in the course of the year been noted at this consulate, and I shall now only observe that on an average for the whole country the four months (January to April) had 75 millimeters too little (only 82 instead of 157 millimeters); and whereas May was about normal there was again in June a deficiency of 21 millimeters in the usual rainfall. July and August have together 187 millimeters rain or about 65 millimeters more than the normal, and October was likewise a very wet month, but still the country had, in the three autumn months together, not over the normal rainfall.

Of the two foregoing tables No. 1 shows the rainfall and No. 2 the beat temperature during the year.

The full drawn lines represent the foregoing year, whereas the dotted lines show the normal condition of both.

COMMERCIAL MOVEMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR AND GENERAL RESULTS THEREFROM.

The trade of this country during the past year 1881 can be said to present an appearance of decided improvement, when compared with its immediate predecessors. This improvement, however, was not entirely without its drawbacks. During the first half of the year a very considerable decline took place in the goods market. This was followed by a distinct recovery in price, but, strictly speaking, was not accompanied by an equal rise in the price of other commodities. Although there has been an increase of value among many of them, it has not been uniform in all directions. When taking this and the general aspect of affairs in consideration, one is inclined to think that the further outlook is distinctly promising for a general improvement in business, providing unforeseen political complications do not disturb the European equilibrium. Some improvement has already manifested itself during the latter part of last year.

The price of money has been better and the employment for it more profitable. The chief improvement in this direction, however, has made itself felt in the exchange transactions. The amounts cleared on settling days during the past year were much in excess of the preceding one, and the record of transactions at the bourse here, of which an account is kept every week, show an immense increase for the year. Apart from this, however, the demand for money based on the requirements of trade showed some improvement. From this circumstance alone, even if it had not been supported by other evidence, it might have been safely asserted that business was really better. Had not the harvest disappointed the expectations of a productive yield, which were maintained to the very commencement of the autumn, the results of 1881 would have been really encouraging.

There were many signs up to the month of September that trade was ready to expand. Money was abundant and deposits showed a steady growth during the year; but the unproductive harvest and the resulting loss of capital following on so many years of similar depression weighed heavily on the country and repressed the general progress which otherwise would have been made.

The commerce of this kingdom is so closely connected with that of Europe and the United States of America that a reference to these countries must be made as well. A speculative fever of unusual severity, which inflated in the resulting excitement the prices of almost all securities at the French markets, has raged throughout the year in that country, and to some extent also in Germany and Austria, though in a somewhat milder degree.

The harvest of wheat and corn in our own country being by no means equal to that of the preceding year parties of speculators, as a result of this, strove, and successfully, to enhance the price of these cereals, and succeeded in retaining a considerable quantity which would otherwise have been exported to Europe, not, however, in sensibly checking the supply which was received from other sources-Australia and India-but simply in transferring the profits which the United States might have made elsewhere.

The enormous immigration, however, which we have received during the year has more than made up for the losses thus brought about by overspeculation. There is no other instance in modern history of one nation receiving, voluntarily, from others an augmentation in one year of inhabitants amounting to nearly a million in number, bringing among

them much intelligence, a capacity for work, and in very many instances adequate capital.

If those in power in Europe could but turn their attention from political intrigue to higher economic considerations on which the prosperity of nations are formed, they might see the wisdom of reducing their present excessive expenditure in the way of armaments and the consequent destructive pressure of taxation. As the matter stands now, jealousy and competitive alarm compel each country to maintain an army at least as much on a par as possible, or even superior to its neighbors and nominal allies.

The offers which the United States can make to the young and energetic are enticing enough, without being made more attractive through the contrast between the freedom of our country and the oppressive burdens imposed on the people all over Europe. HENRY B. RYDER,

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Copenhagen, March 20, 1882.

Consul.

GERMAN EMPIRE.

Annual report, by Consul-General Brewer, of Berlin, for the years 1880

and 1881.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE GENERAL,

Berlin, November 12, 1881.

I have the honor to submit to the Department the annual report of this office, respecting the trade, commerce, and industries of the Ger man Empire. It being quite evident to me that the information called for by the regulations can best be given, when possible, in tabular form, much of the time and labor required in the preparation of this report has been devoted to the compilation of the thirty-six tables herewith submitted. By these tables I am enabled to give, in the most concise and practical manner, a complete general view of the affairs of this empire.

The contradictory opinions on the general condition of German trade and industry in 1880 could hardly be better illustrated than by a comparison of the annual reports of German boards of trade. Some still oppose the new customs policy of the government, and claim that but for the increased duties exacted since 1879, German trade would be at present in a more favorable condition, while others energetically sustain the changes made in the tariff laws. It is, however, on all sides admitted that Germany is laboring under an over production, and that it is very difficult to find a market for all her manufactured wares. Still, as will be seen from figures hereafter given, during the last calendar year there has been an increase of exports with a simultaneous decrease of imports, which certainly indicates for Germany a change for the better. The returns of the German Zollverein show the imports to have been:

In 1877..

In 1878.

In 1879.

$1,177,271,76) 1, 138, 023, 180 1, 174, 846, 541