Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/173
cent, and in Jugoslavia fully four fifths. According to 1910 figures 84 per cent of the people in Serbia followed agricultural pursuits, 88 per cent in Bosnia-Hercegovina 85 per cent in Croatia-Slavonia, and 65 per cent in the Slovenian districts.
All kinds of grain and fruit raised in Central Europe thrive in Jugoslavia. Indian corn is the most popular grain; the average amount produced is from 37 to 40 million quintals, more than any other country in Europe. Roumania raises 28 million q, Italy 21 million, Spain 7 million q of Indian corn. As the country people in Jugoslavia prefer for their own consumption yellow corn meal to white wheat flour, they have a large amount of wheat left for export. The annual production of wheat is estimated at 1.6 q to each inhabitant, against 4 in Bulgaria, 2.8 in France and 3.48 in Roumania. In some sections of southern Macedonia rice is grown; much attention is paid to flax, hemp, sugar beets, rape seed. There is much variety of fruit in Jugoslavia; in addition to the species grown in our country they have also olives, figs, chestnuts, lemons, oranges, St. John’s bread and almonds in sheltered places. Everywhere they can grow grapes, some of which make very fine wines. A large area is covered with forests, both broad-leaved and evergreen, and there is much lumber left available for export. The area covered by forests is twice the whole area of Belgium. Jugoslav lumber used to be exported to many places in southern and western Europe, as to Gette in southern France.
Cattle raising was until reecntly the principal occupation of the people in some Jugoslav countries, especially in Serbia. There cattle was the principal scurce of wealth. Gradually the country people learned to lay more stress on cultivation of the soil, but cattle continued to be of great importance. There has been so far little attention paid to improving the breeds by crossing and selection. In this respect the Jugoslavs have much to learn, and in agriculture as well. In some districts the peasants even today do not apreciate the importance of manure and fertilizers or the advantages of agricultural implements. That accounts for the low yield of crops. The most common animals raised in Jugo-
15. Eligible are those citizens of the is estimated at 15 million, more than the total of population. In spite of that there is hardly any export trade in these animals, as the people eat almost entirely mutton and goat meat. Neither are horses bred for export; they are rather small animals, but very hardy. As far as cattle is concerned, good milch cows are found in Slovenian provinces and in Croatia: we may expect to see an export of milk and butter from this part of Jugoslavia into our republic. Serbia will export to us, even more than in the past, pigs and pork products. Jugoslav fisheries, both river and sea, are of considerable importance. Bee culture was once flourishing, but later was neglected; we may hope for its restoration and the importation of honey and wax to us.
Mineral riches of the Jugoslav lands are considerable. In various locations is mined iron, lead, copper, zinc, mercury, sulphur, naphta, even silver and gold. The country possesses important coal beds; in 1913 the production of coal was 32 million quintals, without including the mines of Funfkirchen on the Danube which will undoubtedly go to Jugoslavia. In Idria in the province of Carniola the production of of mercury amounted to nearly four million crowns or 8200 quintals. There is much undeveloped wealth in the Jugoslav rivers; only very little power has been developed so far.
Thus it is apparent that the Jugoslav countries have the necessary requisites for the growth of industrial life. So far domestic manufacturing has been undeveloped, and the needs of the people were supplied largely by imports from foreign countries; this applies especially to textile industry, tanning, steel making, pottery and glassware manufacturing. There is fine opportunity here for Czech industry to capture the Jugoslav markets.
We have merely sketched the Jugoslav industrial life. It is impossible to be more exact, because as yet there are no statistical figures. But there can be no doubt that intimate industrial and commercial relations between the kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes on the one side and the Czechoslovak Republic on the other are to be desired in the interest of both sides. Both states should at once devote their attention to this question. Jugoslavia can and will send to us foodstuffs and raw materials end get in exchange Czechoslovak industrial products.