12 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



a comparatively limited number of tests. It is only through coopera- 

 tion that good results can be obtained. During the past few years the 

 results have shown that the improvement of varieties has considerably 

 increased the yield. The section possesses a good equipment. Its 

 warehouses and experimental plats are situated near the new dairy at 

 Borsbeke-lez-Alost. The buildings are lighted by electricity. There 

 are suitable cellars for storing potatoes and buildings for storing seeds 

 and grains. The section owns a potato sorter and grain sorters which 

 are operated by steam. These improvements have been made at con- 

 siderable cost, and it is not possible to supply the improved varieties of 

 seed at the same price as seed of inferior quality. It is important tbat 

 the producer sell direct to the consumer, since thus the profits of the 

 middleman are saved. 



The society of Herzele has organized several competitive exhibits. 

 Awards have been given for improved agricultural machinery. The 

 section for the improvement of cattle has for the past year devoted 

 itself to the rational feeding of milch cows. It proposes to study the 

 local feeding stuffs in order to ascertain their relative nutritive value. 

 The section hopes to reduce the cost of rations per animal per day 20 

 centimes. 



The society has also endeavored to improve methods of dairying. 

 The Borsbeke-lez-Alost creamery is an interesting example of cooper- 

 ation (see p. 20). Each patron is required to deposit 70 francs ($14) 

 for each cow from which he furnishes milk to the dairy. He is not 

 required to pay the whole sum at one time, but may arrange to have 

 reserved \ centime (0.1 cent) per liter (about 1.1 qt.) for the milk deliv- 

 ered. The labor and other expenses are covered by deducting from the 

 price of the milk an additional \ centime. Each member receives 

 his skim milk. The profits from the sale of butter are divided among 

 the members in proportion to the amount of cream furnished by each. 

 The milk is tested with the Babcock apparatus. Most of the dairies in 

 Belgium are conducted on a similar plan. In some of them the Gerber 

 method of milk testing is used. The Borsbeke dairy has the following 

 distinguishing peculiarities: Returning the skim milk to the share- 

 holders, a method of cooling similar to that followed in America, and 

 a system of disposing of the butter from house to house. 



The present condition of the dairy is compared with that of previous 

 years in the following table: 



' J£ati[nati'<l. 



