AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS IN BELGIUM. 9 



societies. If the societies were more scientific in their character and 

 nonpolitical they would be able to gain the influence of other organi- 

 zations when they wish subsidies from the State. 



It is very desirable that all persons connected with agriculture should 

 be members of the societies. As the matter stands, membership is too 

 expensive for many of the small farmers. However, there is no good 

 reason why the expenses of membership should not be reduced for this 

 class, without at the same time increasing the cost to the classes hav- 

 ing more means or those interested in experimental research. The 

 abolition of fees for the small farmers would be equivalent to depriv- 

 ing them of the agricultural journals, which are the best means of dis- 

 seminating agricultural knowledge. It would doubtless be advisable 

 to require no fees from the farm laborers. They have less need of the 

 agricultural journals, and it would probably be sufficient to furnish 

 them with notices of the dates and places of meetings, etc. Such 

 information could be sent under the franking privilege and its cost 

 would be insignificant. 



If these plans were followed out the ground for criticism of the local 

 societies would doubtless disappear. Practically the same ideas were 

 embodied in a resolution adopted at the third international agricul- 

 tural congress in Brussels. The resolution urged the need of carefully 

 prepared by-laws for the government of the societies, of more unity of 

 action, and the advisability of their affiliation with other organizations. 



THi: AOKICULTCKAL SOCIETY OF HERZELE. 



The local society of Herzele may be cited to show what has been 

 accomplished by some of the more progressive societies. This society 

 is an organization of recent date. Its work has been described in sev- 

 eral publications. 1 In considering its work it must be remembered 

 that the local agricultural conditions are unfavorable and that it is 

 difficult to introduce improvements. The farmers have little means 

 and the people are poorly educated and nonprogressive. Herzele is 

 situated outside the region where tobacco, sugar beets, chicory, and 

 hops are cultivated; forestry receives little attention, and the use of 

 fertilizers is not general. The farmers are obliged to depend upon 

 products which yield small profits, such as grain and butter. Improve- 

 ments could not be introduced as readily or as rapidly as in regions 

 where the farmers are better instructed or where there is more capital 

 and the local conditions are more favorable. The local society of 

 Herzele therefore sought to introduce improvements suited to the 

 locality. 



A reduction of the expenses of membership for the small farmers has 

 been made possible by generous contributions from the more well-to-do 



1 Revue agrouomique de Louvain, 1894, p. 195; Journal d'agri culture, Paris, 1896, 

 p. 706; Congres international d'agriculture, rapports prdliuiinaire, Brussels, 1895, 

 p. 822. 



