11 



tion is given every da}' except Sundiiys, two hours Ijeing devoted to 

 tlie study of tlu^ theory and three hours to practical work. The num- 

 ber of pupils is limited to 20, and the attendance at the course is 

 free of charo-e. A (lovernment jriant of 2,00(1 francs is awarded to 

 these schools for a three-months' course. The applicant nuist l)e at 

 h>ast 15 years old, i)ossess a good elementary education, and be in 

 physical condition to do the work taught in the schools. Since the 

 foundation of the school in 1890, over 2,000 diplomas have been 

 awarded. The course at present lasts for four months, and the teach- 

 ing of dimiestic economy and aviculture has hcen included in the 

 progranune. 



In addition to the system of direct instruction given through the 

 mova))le schools, every agricultural district committee in Belgium is 

 authorized to establish at the expense of the (Jovernment two fields 

 each year for experiments and demonstrations in agriculture, one to 

 be used for spring crops and the other for autumn planting. The 

 fields are limited to one-half acre each in area. The character of the 

 experiments is determined b}^ the delegate appointed by the district 

 committee, conjointly with a State agricultural expert. The latter 

 determines the varieties of seed, roots, or manures to be experimented 

 with. This connnittee selects the agriculturist upon whose land the 

 field is to be established, and, inasnmch as the fields are intended to 

 supplement the theoretical instruction given in the movable schools, 

 thev are usually located in proximity to the centers at which these 

 schools are held. 



The farmer upon whose estate the held is established must place at 

 the disposal of the committee half an acre of land gratuitously, and 

 agree to treat the soil according to the direction of the committee, also 

 to furnish gratuitously the necessary farmyard manure. The depart- 

 ment of agriculture supplies free of charge the seeds, roots, and 

 chemical manures. The State expert prescribes the character of the 

 cultivation to be followed and gives specific directions for the care of 

 the crop, to which directions the farmers must agree to conform. The 

 crop, when raised, is the property of the cultivator, excepting that the 

 State expert can take samples if he wishes to do so. 



In addition to the foregoing, the cultivator agrees to grow in the 

 following year at his own expense the variety of crop Avhich shall 

 have yielded the best returns as regards quality and quantity. 



A similar decree exists respecting the establishing of gardens for 

 experiment purposes in connection w ith each provincial agricultural 

 society. These gardens are to be used for the growing of new varie- 

 ties of seede, roots, etc., with the understanding that the varieties 

 recognized as good shall be distributed throughout the province by 

 means of the fields for experimentation established in each agricul- 

 tural district. 



