AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN BELGIUM. 433 



moment they were well established the farmers saw their advantages 

 and quickly established others. 



Pure expositions of agricultural products have now been largely 

 superseded by contests for prizes, not only for live stock and farm 

 crops, but also for hygienic and well-kept stables, and it is hoped 

 soon to extend this to include the entire farm. The extension super- 

 visors assist in the holding of these contests and in the judging by 

 scale of the points (score card). The Government gives certain 

 subsidies to encourage the improvement of stables. Live stock en- 

 tered for these contests must be confined to registered pedigreed 

 stock. Expositions are also given of illustrative and demonstrative 

 materials to be used in the teaching of agricultural subjects. The 

 extension supervisors also assist in gathering agricultural statistics 

 and in making an agricultural census. 



PROVINCE OF BRABANT. 



Since 1885 the value of farm land in the Province of Brabant has 

 increased in the sandy regions from $1G0 to $225 per acre, and in the 

 sandy-clay regions from $280 to $340 per acre. This increase in the 

 value of farm land is justified because the farmers now know how to 

 increase production greatly over former years by the proper use of 

 fertilizer, improved seed, and more productive varieties, and at the 

 same time to lessen the cost of production by the more general use of 

 more and improved machinery and implements, thus greatly increas- 

 ing the money-earning power of the land. 



Truck gardening has made great strides, especially in the sandy 

 soils in the cantons of Louvain, Aerschot, and Haecht and in the 

 neighborhood of Brussels. 



Vast quantities of commercial fertilizer are now used, whereas a 

 few years ago their importance was not dreamed of. 



Economic conditions have brought about a change in regard to the 

 use of machinery and implements on the farms. As a result of the 

 exodus of rural people in increasing numbers each year, cultivators 

 were forced to resort more and more to the use of machines and im- 

 plements to take the place of manual labor. The smaller cultivators, 

 who can not afford to own their own machines, have frequently 

 clubbed together and purchased them for common use, and others 

 have resorted to the credit associations and institutions. Hence to- 

 day one finds on the farms all the modern and improved machines, 

 implements, and tools that can be of service in farm operations, many 

 of which are made in foreign countries. 



The number of horses, beef and dairy cattle has increased not only 

 in numbers, but more especially in value, the latter being at least 25 

 per cent gi-eater than it was 25 years ago. An enormous amount of 

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