92 BELGIUM 



controlled 159, 1,200, 642, and 112 respectively. 

 In the same way the federations group policies 

 for insurance against accidents. 



Among the associations formed to promote 

 special interests may be mentioned the 245 Bee 

 Societies, forming eight federations, and com- 

 prising 10,000 members. These societies organ- 

 ize exhibitions, open special markets for the sale 

 of honey, and hold from 300 to 400 conferences 

 in the year to further the interests of apiculture. 

 The Horticultural Societies number 133, with a 

 membership of 1 9,000 ; and the Bird Societies 

 (which especially devote themselves to the rear- 

 ing of pigeons for food) number 54, with a 

 membership of 4,000 ; while of associations for 

 improving the breed of cattle there are 312, with 

 a membership of 11,000. 



Of co-operative dairies there were 69 in 

 1895, 109 in 1896, 167 in 1897, 237 in 1898, 356 

 in 1900, and 427 in 1901. The membership in 

 1901 was 47,447 — mostly very small farmers 

 indeed, judging from the fact that the average 

 number of cattle possessed per member is only 

 2*7. The sales effected in 1901 by these co- 

 operative dairies amounted to over 22,500,000 

 francs. 



In commencing an inquiry as to the circum- 

 stances under which all these results have been 



