THE ACTIVITY OF THE ROYAI. SOCIETY 1 3 



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The society's activity in the matter of agricultural education is very 

 interesting. Places for study are of three kinds: they are on large farms, on 

 small farms and on farms specially devoted to stock breeding. 



The education on the first of these lasts three years, each year spent on 

 a different farm in order that the student may have a large and varied ex- 

 perience. His instruction is essentially practical, but the society also en- 

 courages theoretical knowledge, sending to each student a certain number 

 of scientific manuals which remain his property after he has finally and suc- 

 cessfully passed his examinations. In order to obtain a jDlace a student 

 must be seventeen years old and must already have followed a two years' 

 elementary course in agriculture. The students receive from 150 to 250 

 crowns a year ; they are lodged and kept and are regarded as in the employ- 

 ment of the owner of the farm. They must enter the work the}- execute 

 in a diarj- and cannot otherwise obtain a final certificate. In 1915 fiftj^-eight 

 of these places were assigned and sixteen certificates of completed studies 

 were awarded. 



Places for study on small farms are granted for two years. In addition 

 to board and lodging the students receive from the owner 175 crowns in 

 the first and 200 crowns in the second year. 



Bursaries for stock-keeping always last for three years which are spent 

 on two different farms. The owner boards and lodges the students, and 

 pays them 175 crowns in the first, 200 crowns in the second and 250 crowns 

 in the third year. They must do all the work they are ordered to do, learn- 

 ing especially to milk, to understand forage, to clean and care for animals, 

 to kill pigs and to perform kindred tasks. 



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A very important share of the society's activity is devoted to scien- 

 tific publications and methods of propaganda. 



In 1915 it published : the periodical " Tidsskrift fur I.andekonomie " 

 {Review of AgriatUnral Economy) ; 2,400 copies of its annual report ; 1600 co- 

 pies of the " Landekonomisk Aarburg 1916 " {Agricultural Yearbook 1916) 

 and various less important matter. 



In order to circulate this literature of agriculture the publications were 

 sent to 960 circulating libraries, many popular schools, the best elementary 

 schoolmasters, and all the Sold.iterhyeni (Soldiers' Homes) depending on the 

 Ministry of War. Moreover six lectiires on various agricultural subjects 

 were held in January, February and March. 



The society has distributed a certain number of silver cups to agricul- 

 tiirists who have particularly distinguished themselves by transforming, 

 by indefatigable labour almost imaided by financial resources, uncultivated 

 land into small properties having a high yield ; and has also given twenty 

 medals to peasants and labourers, both men and women, who have shown 

 particular skill in certain branches of the agricultural industry' or who have 



