AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN BELGIUM. 429 



machinery. The experiments likewise include, according to the 

 region, tests of garden vegetables, horticulture, forestry, apiculture, 

 the care of poultry and of milk, the raising, feeding, and fattening 

 of live stock, etc. 



The number of experiment fields under the control of the super- 

 visors is considerable. In the beginning they were utilized to test 

 fertilizers and new varieties of plants and were largely demonstra- 

 tive in character. The use of these experiment fields is to-day 

 largely extended, and for the past 10 years they have been used 

 more for the acquisition of new knowledge than for the populariza- 

 tion of known facts. Since 1903 uniform and systematic experi- 

 ments have been organized for each region of the country in order 

 to obtain practical information regarding the fertilizers needed and 

 the influence of thorough cultivation. Experiments on the feeding 

 of dairy cows and the fattening of cattle and hogs have likewise been 

 systematically organized since 1901. When occasion has arisen ex- 

 periments have also been carried on regarding the diseases of plants. 

 Forecasting the weather has also been conducted for several years 

 by this organization. 



The supervisors assist and encourage by giving advice and counsel 

 in the organization of agricultural societies, but do not take part in 

 their creation. In their administrative relation the supervisors are 

 called upon to give advice on all questions relating to agriculture in 

 their territory — agricultural statistics, organization and control of 

 agricultural extension instruction, orders of merit, subsidies to agri- 

 cultural societies, etc. 



The folloAving account of the agriculture of Belgium from 1885 to 

 1910 has been compiled from information furnished by the extension 

 supervisors, and published by the committee of organization, of 

 whom Baron H. della Faille d'Huysse is president, under approval by 

 the Honorable Baron de Morean, minister of agriculture, industries, 

 and public works. 



PROVINCE OF ANTWERP. 



TVTien the extension sui)ervisors Avere established, in 1885, the agri- 

 cultural conditions throughout the Province of Antwerp were very 

 unsatisfactory. Farming people, as a class, were doing well to meet 

 expenses, and were consequently moving to the larger towns and cities 

 in quest of a living which would at least not leave them in debt at 

 the end of the year. The young people, especially, had been for 

 some time migrating to the cities in alarming proportions, but now 

 the farmers themselves were following whenever possible. 



The great 2:)rogress in agricultural practice, realized largely 

 through the efforts of these extension supervisors, has now completely 

 modified this state of things. The farmers of Antwerp possess to-day 



