444 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



lands is now cultivated or converted into pastures at a profit, and 

 is producing excellent crojis, and the other lands are producing more 

 and better crojDs accordingly. 



During the past 25 years the extension supervisors have held 3,250' 

 conferences and written 3,500 letters in reply to requests for personal 

 assistance, besides the numerous personal oral consultations given 

 the farmers at their homes, but more especially at the markets and 

 fairs. They have also organized throughout the farming region 

 about 1,000 demonstration and experiment fields, wiiich have had a 

 wonderful influence by proving to the farmer the benefits to be 

 derived from following the improved methods advocated in the con- 

 ferences. These demonstration fields are regarded as the most 

 important single factor in the rapid improvement of agriculture 

 throughout the Province, because the farmers are slow to put into 

 practice the information given them by the supervisors until its 

 jjracticability has been demonstrated to them and the beneficial 

 results seen to be actually realized. Courses for adult farmers date 

 from 1888. Since then 675 have been held, consisting of 4,000 ses- 

 sions attended by a total of 200,000 people. Courses on domestic 

 economy and hygiene for farmers' wives have also been given, the 

 115 courses consisting of 450 sessions and enrolling 27,000 women 

 and girls. One hundred and sixt3^-six courses in orchard fruits, com- 

 prising 1,G60 sessions, were given from 1905 to 1910 to 58,100 jDer- 

 sons, and during the same number of j^ears there were also held 163 

 courses in vegetable gardening, composed of 1,4G6 sessions with 70,000 

 persons enrolled. Besides the above, there were held 462 miscel- 

 laneous courses, composed of 1,385 sessions, treating of the most 

 important needs of the different localities. 



Since 1896 agi'iculture has been taught in the public schools, and 

 the supervisors have therefore visited 750 such schools in company 

 with the district insj^ectors. 



In 1902 the schools of dairying (milk and cheese) were converted 

 into movable schools of economic agriculture, and since then 24 

 sessions lasting from 3 to 4 months have been held. 



Numerous farmers' societies and associations have been organized 

 embracing all the different agricultural activities. 



PROVINCE OF NAMTJR. 



As in tlie other Provinces of Belgium, agriculture has made great 

 progress during the past 25 years, and is now highly remunerative 

 and the farming people prosperous, well fed, clothed, and sheltered. 

 The changes that have occurred and the reasons for them are the 

 same as those referred to in other Provinces. AA^ile the production 

 per hectare of field crops has greatly increased and at the saine time 

 their cost of production has greatly lessened, it is a noteworthy fact 

 that pasturage has increased in a larger proportion, so that while 



