AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS IN BELGIUM. 



Generally speaking the work of the local societies is to encourage 

 progress and disseminate knowledge, (1) by agricultural fairs with com- 

 petitive awards, (2) by experimenting, (3) by congresses and conven- 

 tions, and (4) by means of agricultural journals. 



Agricultural fairs. — Most of the local societies devote the greater 

 part of their limited resources to fairs. They are held every 3, 4, or 

 5 years, or in some places not oftener than once in 10 years. During 

 the intervals practically nothing is done. This was especially true 

 before the reorganization of the societies in 1889. But in spite of the 

 law then passed and the proclamation of the Department of Agriculture 

 in 1892 a number of local societies have continued to follow their old 

 system. These fairs are much like those of other countries. They 

 include exhibitions of animals and agricultural products and imple- 

 ments. Sometimes they are of considerable interest, and they doubtless 

 have some influence upon agricultural progress. It is, however, a ques- 

 tion whether the sums expended upon them could not be used to better 

 purpose. If the programmes were more carefully planned it would be 

 a different matter, but the practical side of the question is generally 

 neglected. The work of the fairs is too superficial. Tat stock or ani- 

 mals of attractive appearance and large specimens of agricultural 

 products too often receive premiums, while the best methods of cattle 

 breeding and the value of agricultural products from a scientific and 

 economical standpoint are not sufficiently considered. The awarding 

 of prizes is often not carefully done. It is usually privileged persons 

 who receive the premiums and the progress of agriculture is not gen- 

 erally assisted. Fairs conducted in this way neither encourage nor 

 instruct the mass of farmers. 



The minister of agriculture, M. de Bruyn, shares the above opinions. 

 In a circular issued in 1892 he says in effect: I am convinced that the 

 criticisms which have been made of the agricultural fairs are not with- 

 out foundation. The programmes followed out do not lay sufficient stress 

 on local needs. Their greatest fault is that they are not sufficiently 

 restricted. They sometimes embrace the whole subject of rural econ- 

 omy and no one branch is materially benefited. Practical instruction 

 must have a decided influence on the future of agriculture. It is there- 

 fore the duty of the local societies to pay particular attention to prac- 

 tical demonstrations for the farmers, to call attention to favorable 

 results which have been obtained by experimenters, and to explain the 

 reasons for them. It is also necessary to avoid the error made by some 

 local societies of devoting all their attention to one branch of farmiug 

 or to certain special local conditions. 



Several societies have already followed the lines of improvement 

 indicated by M. de Bruyn. For instance, the society of Kemmel has 

 improved the culture and drying of hops, the society of Grammont has 

 endeavored to improve the culture of tobacco, that of Courtrai has given 



