Agriculture Latvia's Mainstay

Agriculture is the backbone of the economic resources of Latvia, and about half the population is engaged in it, together wdth its allied industries. The most important article of commerce is flax—famous as " Livonian Flax "; before the Great War it formed the chief article of export, most of it finding its way to the western countries of Europe. The pre-war acreage of flax fields was about 275,000; owing, however, to the devastations of war and to the fact that 500,000 refugees who left their country were farmers, the acreage dwindled to 70,000.

Timbered Land of Milk and Honey

The next most important export is timber, a quarter of the country being covered with forests. In consequence of the shortage of coal the railways for a long time had to be fed with wood, and this supply, together with the vast quantities of timber required for local needs—chiefly a demand from the devastated regions—considerably crippled the export of timber.

Even in pre-war days Latvia was often alluded to in foreign journals as the "Denmark of Russia," implying that the productivity of land and dairy-farms, for which Denmark had long been famed, was similarly to be met with in Latvia—at that time one of Russia's most fertile provinces. Livestock-breeding, bee-keeping, and fishing are other chief occupations; the two last having been the ancient traditional industries of the Letts. In olden days the Letts even paid their taxes in honey, and it was so plentiful that an alcoholic beverage (medus vihns) was concocted from it which was prized as a most exquisite wine. Bee-keeping is still a prosperous branch of rural industry, but it no longer forms one of the chief sources of income as it did in 1913, when there were 12,000 apiaries in Courland.

When the ravages wrought by war have been mended and peace and plenty have again joined hands, Latvia should see the traditions of her past prosperity realized anew, and prove a veritable Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. Other industries have to do with metal, chemical, and textile enterprise, all of which are well developed, in particular the metal industry, which easily heads the list, although there are neither iron nor coal mines in the country.

Advantageous Geographical Conditions

Riga, the richest and most important of the capitals of the young Baltic States, is situated at the mouth of the Daugava (Dvina), a convenient commercial waterway rising in the highlands of Central Russia, and contains many stately medieval mementoes, among which the Old Cathedral, built in 1204, three years after the founding of the town by Bishop Albert I., is one of the most notable. Beautifully kept public parks and fine boulevards are characteristics of the up-to-date "new town" that surrounds the "old city," of which the narrow streets, quaint old Guild Houses and Hanseatic Halls form a striking contrast with the modern features of new Riga.

Latvia has about 340 miles of sea coast, and good river and railway communications. Her three most important harbours are Riga, Liepaja (Libau), and Ventspils (Windau), the two last mentioned being practically ice-free the whole year round. Riga is closed to navigation generally for a few days only. Before the war these 3281 harbours played a noteworthy part in the world of commerce and nearly one-fourth of the imports and exports of Russia went by way of Latvia.

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PEOPLES OF ALL NATIONS: THEIR LIFE TODAY AND THE STORY OF THEIR PAST BY OUR FOREMOST WRITERS OF TRAVEL, ANTHROPOLOGY & HISTORY (in 7 volumes), editor J. A. Hammerton, published by the Educational Book Co., London, 1920. Subsequently published as both a 7 volume set (1922) and subscription series (1922–1923) by the Amalgamated Press, London.
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