AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS IN BELGIUM. 19 



sugar boots, building sugar refineries, and providing accident insurance 

 for the fanners. Half the parishes in the province have already joined 



the organization. Several of the societies have begun practical work. 

 Seven or eight credit and savings bauks and 15 cattle insurance 

 companies have been established. 



In the province of Hainaut the social side of agriculture has also been 

 well started. The federation has a religious basis. It is called "Coop- 

 eration de Xotre Dame des Champes (Society of our Lady of the 

 Fields)." Its object is to improve the material welfare of the fanners, as 

 well as their social and moral condition. It has sections tor the eco- 

 nomical purchase of goods, for bettering the financial standing of the 

 association, and for cattle insurance. The business is done on the coop- 

 erative plan. In 1896 the section for the purchase of goods did busi- 

 ness to the extent of more than a million francs ($200,000). In order 

 that it may extend its influence to the inhabitants of the whole prov- 

 ince, the federation is subdivided into branches for each district and 

 parish. It is directed by an Episcopal committee, and each branch by 

 a parochial committee. The attempt is made to interest public-spirited 

 citizens to extend the membership, which is at present 2,400. The mem- 

 bers receive a weekly journal 1 and an annual almanac. 2 



The province of Namur is without a central organization. The local 

 societies, which were organized for the purchase of fertilizers, have, 

 however, extended their work to other lines. One of these societies 

 publishes a weekly paper for its members. 



The province of Luxembourg has only lately become interested in 

 work of this nature, but is making rapid progress. In general, its 

 work is like that of the province of Hainaut. Through the efforts of 

 the clergy some parochial organizations were established in 1S'.>4, begin- 

 ning with cooperative dairies. A number of the villages possess hand 

 separators and deliver only cream at the dairies. The Firton dairy has 

 43 separators, and produces COO kg. of butter daily. Credit and sav- 

 ings banks are in operation in this province. 



This review serves to give an idea of the great hold which these 

 various agricultural organizations, owing their beginning to private 

 individuals, have taken upon the people of Belgium. It will be observed 

 that the social feature is the most prominent one in their organization 

 and development. On the other hand, the local agricultural societies 

 Mere established for the popularizing of scientific information. The 

 local societies are directed by competent government officials, while the 

 independent associations are directed by private individuals, who are 

 public-spirited men well informed on matters of social reform. Though 

 they have different objects, they are not antagonistic, but rather com- 

 plementary. On economic questions, they meet on common ground. 

 Both try to spread among the rural population organizations which 

 procure material advantages. 



'La croix de syndicate. Bracqnegines. 



- Agenda des syndicats agricoles, Castermau. 



