Chapter 146 Agricultural Research Institute
August 19, 1868.
In Berlin, the Hechingen Foundation reached an agreement with several German research or academic institutions.
The Hechingen Foundation provided funding and experimental land to build a research institute in East Africa dedicated to studying local agricultural crops and tropical plants - the East African Agricultural Research Institute.
"It's a pleasure to work with you, Professor Anton Peruzzi!" Ernst raised his glass and said to Anton Peruzzi.
Anton Peruz drank the whole bottle and said, "It's all for Germany!"
As an expert in tropical agriculture in Germany, Anton Peruzzi had a very unhappy life before accepting the invitation from the Hechingen Consortium.
While colleagues in other countries were traveling around the world, having their own experimental sites and sufficient funds, Anton Peruzzi could only conduct his scientific research in a small laboratory in Germany.
Germany relied entirely on imports for tropical crops, and the local nobles were only interested in increasing the food production capacity of their own fields.
Germany has a temperate climate, so naturally all research funds and talent are directed towards studying crops that are suitable for growing locally.
No German noble was interested in tropical crop research, let alone investing in a project that was doomed to fail.
Germany's research on tropical crops was basically zero compared to other local disciplines, which was the worst thing for Anton Peruz.
The emergence of East African colonies changed this situation, and now the Germans also had a large colony in the tropics.
Moreover, the agricultural conditions in this colony are quite good. In order not to waste the talents of this land, we must attach importance to the research of local agriculture.
The purpose of establishing the East African Agricultural Research Institute is to develop East Africa's agricultural talents as much as possible.
Although, the climatic conditions in East Africa are not unique, the Brazilian Plateau at the same latitude is similar to that in East Africa.
But after all, every place has its own characteristics, which need to be discovered slowly.
Previously, agriculture in East African colonies was all about copying, directly citing mature planting methods and plans from all over the world, or directly hiring experts in related fields.
The work of the East African Agricultural Research Institute is mainly focused on breeding, crop disease prevention and control, and increasing grain yield per unit area...
In order to support the work of Anton Peruz and others, the Hexingen Foundation provided eight experimental sites covering an area of more than 300 acres.
Experimental sites were set up from the coastal plains to the inland plateaus, from the arid desert edge in the north to the humid zones in the south, and along the shores of the three great lakes of East Africa.
"Professor Anton Peruz, please don't worry about your research in East Africa. We will try our best to provide all the support your team needs. As for your family, our company will always take care of their lives." Ernst said to Anton Peruz.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your contribution to German agriculture." Anton Peruz did not dare to be arrogant in front of a sponsor, especially a top aristocratic sponsor.
"You're welcome. This is what I should do. Because of the impact of division, Germany has lost many interests around the world, allowing other countries to grow bigger and stronger overseas. Now Germany is getting closer and closer to reunification, and in the future we will definitely expand our own interests overseas.
Therefore, what you and I are doing is just to pave the way for the future overseas expansion of the German nation. By then, Anton Perutz, your research results will definitely become famous. "Ernst was painting a big picture.
But Anton Peruz took it seriously. Over the years, with the awakening of German nationalism and the rapid rise of Prussia, industry in the German region developed rapidly.
The German people's self-confidence was growing stronger and stronger. Now all they needed was an opportunity for Germany to soar to the sky, and this opportunity was naturally the Franco-Prussian War.
Like many Germans, Anton Peruzzi firmly believed that Germany was one of the greatest nations, so he believed what Ernst said about Germany's future development of its own interests overseas.
"Your Highness, the Germans will never forget the great achievements of the pioneers. I am just a small agricultural expert. Compared with what you have done, it is not worth mentioning." Anton Peruz flattered him.
"There is no distinction between noble and humble in career. In my eyes, what you have done is a contribution to the whole world. Let's fight together, let's fight together!" Ernst praised generously and toasted Anton Peruzzi.
There was great cheer at the party and everyone was very satisfied.
A few days later, the Port of Hamburg.
"Hello, Mr. Anton Peruzzi!"
"Who are you?"
"I am the East African staff member who will pick you up. You can call me Daniel Zhang. I will help you have a good journey at sea this time in East Africa. If you need anything, you can tell me."
"Hello, Zhang, thank you for your company's support for our business." Anton Peruz said politely.
"This is what we should do, sir. Please follow me. We have reserved a room for you on the ship." Daniel Zhang picked up Anton Peruz's luggage and began to lead the way.
Soon, the group arrived on the "Merry", a large ocean-going ship built by the Hamburg Hechingen Shipyard.
"Daniel Zhang, I see there are many Germans on this ship. Are they also going to the East African colony?"
"Yes, sir, these are immigrants who want to develop in East Africa. East Africa is now an important choice for many Germans. There are nearly two million Germans in East Africa as a whole," Daniel Zhang introduced.
"I see! But there are two million Germans. There can't be so many in the East African colonies!" Anton Peruzzi questioned.
You have to know that even in Germany, there are not many countries with a German population of over one million. Anton Peruz naturally couldn't believe that an unknown colony could have a population of over one million Germans.
"Mr. Anton Peruz, it is like this. The existence of other ethnic groups is not recognized in East Africa. All residents living in East Africa must learn German culture. Everyone who converts to German culture from the bottom of their hearts is automatically classified as a German." Daniel Zhang said.
"So that's how it is! Then you?"
"Yes, I am a German. I studied and graduated from the Hechingen Military Academy."
Anton Peruz had no idea which school the Hechingen Military Academy was, but he knew Hechingen.
Looking at the yellow-skinned German in front of him, Anton Peruz felt something strange, but he didn't say anything.
Isn't this assimilation? Cultural figures like Anton Peruz and other German upper class people are the main force in promoting German nationalism.
For Anton Peruz, everything about Germany is the best. Although the policies of the East African colonies are somewhat inappropriate, which makes Anton Peruz, a true German, feel a little uncomfortable, but if the national culture is used as the core of assimilation, it is not unacceptable.
For example, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ethnic integration was not impossible, but the problem was that both Austria and Hungary wanted to integrate other ethnic groups with their own culture as the core, which was naturally impossible.
East Africa has always been centered on Germany, and education and other aspects are all taught in German. Those who are assimilated are also relatively willing, so naturally there will be no troubles like the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
One of the important reasons is that there are very few intellectuals like Anton Peruzzi among the East African immigrant community.
If you invite a group of people with a little culture from the Far East, even if they don't say it out loud, they will definitely collude secretly, just like the family forces with cultural heritage in Southeast Asia.
Therefore, the East African colonies introduced a large number of illiterate people in order to reduce the cost of assimilation. Those who had received non-German education had already established their own thinking, which might not be changed.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
