214 REPORT OF OFFTCF, OF FXPF.UIMFNT STATIONS. 



GERMANY. 



In (lormanv tho fann-machinory investigations Imvo been con- 

 (luctod mainly under the auspices of the German Af^ricnltural So- 

 ciety, wliicli was ()r<2;anize(l in 1855 and held its first farm-implement 

 exhibit and field trial in ISST. Since then these tests have been con- 

 ducted annually in dilTerent sections of (Termany. 



The implement trials of (iermany are conducted in connection with 

 the jreneral implement exhibits which are part of the attractions 

 for the annual meetin<;s of the society. For the jmrpose of arran<jin<jf 

 these exhibits and conductinf>j the field trials, the society has chosen 

 a permanent conniiittee consisting of eight members and a salaried 

 secretary. This committee meets three times a year — in June, Octo- 

 ber, and February — to arrange the plans for the exliibit and field 

 trials, and to choose the judges for the ditl'erent trials. Only the 

 secretary receives a salary for his services. The other members of 

 the committee and the judges receive their expenses while employed. 



The tests are conducted as competitive field trials, in which various 

 implements of the same class are first placed in the general-imple- 

 ment exliibit, for which the manufacturers pay 20 cents a square foot 

 for the space occupied. Those who are not members of the society 

 are also required to pay an entrance fee of $5 for each implement ex- 

 hibited, and to make a deposit equal to one-half the value of the 

 machine exhibited in order to insure the arrival of the machines in 

 time for the exhibit and field trial. 



The society pays all expenses of the field trial, such as the expenses 

 of the judges and the cost of the motive power for the machines, but 

 the erection of the machines and their care during the trial is paid 

 for by the exhibitor, who agrees, if requested, to leave the machines 

 with the committee for further trials and closer investigation. The 

 expenses for these investigations during the years from 1887 to 1898 

 were between $500 and $1,500 a year, except during tiie year 1904 

 when the trials were held in Berlin, at an expense of $8,333. These 

 expenses did not include the cash prizes offered, which amounted to 

 from $750 to $1,500 a year. 



At the main field trials only cash prizes are offered. As an ex- 

 ample of the distribution of prizes, mention may be made of those 

 given at the Mannheim exhibit and field trial in 1902, which were as 

 follows: For trials with self-binders, $400; milk pasteurizers, $200; 

 machines for sorting potatoes, $275 ; and alcohol motors, $425. The 

 German Emjjeror also gave a special grand prize of a porcelain vase, 

 as well as cash prizes for the best alcohol motors. 



The money to meet the expenses of the trials is paid from the treas- 

 ury of the society. No government aid is given for the purpose. 

 The society obtains its money partly from the city at which the trials 



