AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN BELGIUM. 



437 



As the great mass of rural children attend school during the pri- 

 mary grades only, and as some early insight into the great field of 

 agricultural knowledge would tend to create a better interest in after 

 life in the courses and conferences for adult farmers, an eli'ort is 

 being made to introduce some of the phases of this work into the 

 primary schools; not by the use of textbooks, but wholly by object 

 lessons, and thus develop the poAver of observation. 



As the mass of the farmers' daughters obtain no instruction what- 

 ever in school regarding domestic science and economy, there has 

 recently been established movable schools for giving instruction in 

 these important matters. 



Agi'icultural associations are of recent date, but they have been 

 created through the activities of the supervisors in increasing num- 

 bers until to-day there are in the Province of West Flanders the 

 following: 



196 unions of special agricultural activities. 



11 societies of apiculture. 



42 societies of general agriculture. 



34 societies for credit (Raiffeisen). 



63 syndicates for raising cattle. 



120 sj'iidicates for raising horses. 



45 syndicates for raising rabbits. 



24 associations for the insurance of the lives of cattle. 



26 associations for the insurance of the lives of horses. 



130 associations for the insurance of the lives of goats. 



14 associations for the insurance of the lives of hogs. 



9 farmers' clubs. 



A total of 714 associations. 



PROVINCE OF EAST FLANDERS. 



Twenty-five years ago the farmers of the Province of East Flan- 

 ders were in a deplorable and critical condition, but now, thanks to 

 the work of the extension supervisors more than to any other one 

 thing, they are a happy and prosperous body. Their arable farm 

 land has increased in value 40 to 50 per cent, and they are now pro- 

 ducing at a less cost more crops to the hectare. The following table 

 will serve to illustrate the changed condition as regards the average 

 production per acre: 



Increase in crop production in East Flanders, 1880-1901, 



