10 



large room for class purposes and a moderate-sized fruit garden, 

 placing them at the disposal of the lecturer. The courses are onl}'^ 

 given where an attendance of at least 20 is guaranteed. Examina- 

 tions are held, and to those who pass certificates are awarded b}- the 

 board of examination. Between 1895 and 1903, 1,628 pupils have 

 been up for this examination, of whom Y31 obtained certificates for 

 arboriculture and 104 for market gardening. 



COURSES OF LECTURES IN APICULTURE. 



Until 1902 lectures upon apiculture were equally divided among 

 the districts where members of apicultural societies existed. From 

 that date these lectures have been given in a series of at least five 

 in the same locality. During the last three years 1,571 lessons have 

 been given and the courses were attended by 3,000 persons. 



COURSES OF LECTURES IN AVICULTURE. 



Four or five lectures comprise the course on aviculture. The first 

 course on this subject was prepared by the inspector of agriculture, and 

 required that the lecturers should pass an examination before being- 

 permitted to give instruction. The courses at present are prepared by 

 the various societies interested in the subject. The popularity of the 

 stud}^ is shown by the fact that during the past three years 921 lessons 

 were given and the courses were attended by about 20,000 pupils. 



SPECIAL LESSONS AND SPECIAL LECTURES. 



In addition to the foregoing courses, the department of agriculture 

 has granted subsidies providing for a certain number of special lessons, 

 as upon the choice and feeding of dairy cows; lessons in agricultural 

 chemistr}^; agricultural bookkeeping; lectures on the natural sciences 

 in their application to agriculture, etc. Eight hundred and fifty lec- 

 tures of this character have been given during the last three years, the 

 courses all having been organized by the local agricultural associations. 



MOVABLE DAIRY SCHOOLS FOR WOMEN. 



On a Belgian farm the farmer's wife looks after the dair3\ For this 

 reason the teaching of the feeding and care of cattle and the elements 

 of dairy farming have been made a feature in the movable dairy 

 schools for women. These dairy schools are movable, changing 

 their location from one agricultural district to another once every 

 three months. The first school was founded in 1890, and at present 

 ten are reported as l)eing in active operation. 



The establishment of the movable dairy school is usually made at 

 the request of the local agricultural associations, and is supported 

 either directly by the State or through the i)rovin('iiil association of 

 the district. The teaching is both theoretical and practical. lustruc- 



