304 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



wives of the Province of Namur. Similar arrangements were made 

 in the remaining farm groups, although these were on a somewhat 

 smaller scale, one being designed for farms of about 45 acres and the 

 other for the small holding of from 5 to 10 acres. One of the laborer's 

 cottages was constructed and equipped by a building association in 

 Ghent, which specializes in this type of dwelling. 



A noteworthy feature in one of the farm groups was the participa- 

 tion of the permanent schools of home economics of Belgium. Some 

 of these furnished the sleeping rooms, another a family collection of 

 medicines, while others exhibited illustrative material dealing with 

 such diverse subjects as family hygiene, floriculture, cookery, stable 

 construction, and dressmaking. By such means, the various institu- 

 tions were brought prominently before the public in a concrete and 

 interesting way, and a powerful impetus was given to the whole 

 propaganda for agricultural education. 



Ideals of practical service and appropriateness joined with esthetic 

 considerations of simplicity, beauty, and good taste characterized the 

 village throughout. Owing to its e|)hem.eral nature, its embellish- 

 ment was somewhat restricted because of the obvious impossibility of 

 obtaining the full decorative effect from slow-growing trees and 

 shrubs; but, on the other hand, the results secured were the more 

 useful in some ways since they revealed what could be accomplished 

 without great delay. Floriculture was naturally especially in evi- 

 dence, both in the practical gardens of the individual home and in 

 the more formal and pretentious decorations of the public grounds 

 and buildings. The planning, construction, and lighting of streets 

 and driveways, the fences, and even the form and position of sign 

 posts received the careful and sympathetic treatment typical of the 

 entire enterprise, and contributed appreciably to its symmetry and 

 effectiveness. 



Great interest was manifested by the Belgian government in the 

 village from its inception, and this doubtless aided its success in no 

 small degree. The committees having the project in charge were 

 largely composed of Belgian officials associated with agriculture or 

 education, and the various institutions working along these lines 

 cooperated in the enterprise in many ways. About 10,000 square feet 

 of floor space was available in the exposition halls attached to the 

 municipal building, and this was occupied very largely by exhibits of 

 agi'icultural education, rural associations, and the like. There was 

 also a special building, representing a hunter's lodge, for the ex- 

 clusive use of the department of waters and forests, in which its 

 various activities were depicted. 



The official status of the undertaking, as well as the high regard 

 in which the agricultural industry is regarded in Belgium, was still 

 further attested by a \isit from King Albert, who inspected the 



