436 BEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



time they are living better in every respect and more of their children 

 are receiving an education. 



Since 1885 the extension supervisors in West Flanders have held 

 2,406 conferences, mostly upon the proper use of commercial fertil- 

 izer, the selection of proper seed and jDlants, the feeding of live stock 

 and more hygienic stables, and the advantages of various associa- 

 tions for the purpose of mutual help in purchasing and selling, and 

 for the insurance of horses and cattle, and the fostering of special 

 agricultural industries. 



As cultivators become more impressed Avith the benefits to be 

 derived from a technical knowledge of some agricultural subject, 

 they resort more freely to the means of obtaining their information 

 by writing to the supervisors for the definite information desired, 

 and 5.565 such written requests have thus far been complied with. 



Considerable influence has been obtained by the supervisors visiting 

 the principal markets and conversing with and advising the farmers, 

 and frequently visiting their farms in order to give more accurate 

 assistance. 



The number of experiment and demonstration fields established in 

 the Province of West Flanders since 1885 at the expense of the Gov- 

 ernment is 800. These fields are distributed in various localities 

 where the people are more anxious to learn and take a gi^eater interest 

 in improving their conditions, and the farm of some prominent and 

 influential cultivator is selected. They have demonstrated to the 

 farmer the importance of the proper use of manure and commercial 

 fertilizers, of improved implements, better tillage, more intensive cul- 

 ture, the advantages of seed selection, the use of improved or better 

 varieties of field and garden plants, fruit trees, and small fruits, and 

 the rational and intensive feeding of cattle. 



Since 1888 there have been given in this Province 816 courses for 

 adult cultivators, comprising 9,012 sessions, with a total attendance 

 of 272,500 persons. These courses have resulted in a marked im- 

 provement in the general understanding of scientific agriculture, but, 

 of course, do not take the place of the professional agricultural 

 schools, Avhich alone are able to give an extended course. Courses 

 designed especially for farmers' wives have been given since 1901 

 and with excellent results, 129 having thus far been held, consisting 

 of 645 sessions with 45.000 in attendance. 



There have also been given 316 courses in horticulture, consisting of 

 2,414 sessions, with a total attendance of 96,560; 136 courses in 

 vegetable gardening, consisting of 950 sessions, with 33,250 in attend- 

 ance; 75 courses in aviculture, consisting of 375 sessions, at which 

 14,500 were present; 252 courses in apiculture, comprising 1,008 ses- 

 sions, were held since 1890, with 22.176 in attendance; and more re- 

 cently 19 courses in floriculture, composed of 116 sessions, with 4,640 

 in attendance. 



