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Economic Development
The lord-farmer relationship in the
settlement was regulated by a contract. For
example, on April 24, 1780, an agreement was
made between the count's prefect, Anton
Minaric 21 hectare for their private use. In
addition, forests and fields were shared by
the whole town.
The number of homes in Scheindorf was 139 at
the turn of the century. By 1940, this
number had risen to 241. 163 houses belonged
to Swabians, 68 to Romanians, and 10 to
various other families.
The Swabians, renowned for being
hard-working and competent, were soon able
to make the land fruitful just like their
friends in the other towns. They mostly
planted wheat, rye and corn. The wheat and
rye they used for bread, and the corn mostly
for cattle feed.
The size of the farms and homes did not
change as long as the settlers were under
obligation to the count. The law stated that
the estate would be left to the oldest heir
undivided. This policy was in effect until
the First World War. This was a safeguard
against splitting up farms into small
parcels of land. Division of the land had a
bad effect, unless new land could be bought
or acquired. For example, in Martingen and
Petrifeld in 1937, 83% and 69%,
respectively, of farmers owned from 1 to 12
acres. In Scheindorf, the percentage of
small farms was probably larger. As a
result, many families could not make a
living off their small farms and hired
themselves out as laborers on larger farms.
Laborers reached agreement with the employer
for a percentage of the yield. A cutter
would receive 1/11 to 1/12 of the yield; a
harvester 1/3 of the yield.
[Credits,
Originally Published by Jody McKim Pharr at the DVHH.org 29 Sep 2006]
[Published by Sarah Coraggio
at the DVHH on 2 October 2018]
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Last
Updated:
13 Oct 2018 |
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