34 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



societies ; but, though the societies are grouped in federa- 

 tions, the rule in Holland is for each branch to make its 

 own purchases, independently of the federation. 



Co-operation for sale is chiefly organised in connection 

 with vegetables and fruit, of which very considerable 

 quantities find their way to the English market. The 

 organisation is carried out by local horticultural societies, 

 some 250 in number, and of these no fewer than 80 have 

 established public sales of the produce of their members. 



Co-operation for butter production has been developed 

 so far that there are now 686 co-operative dairies, of which 

 358 are worked by steam-power and 328 by hand. The 

 majority are grouped in seven federations centralising 

 purchase of necessaries, and in some measure also regulating 

 the butter production, while the quality of the butter is 

 guaranteed by a " Control " system which, while due to 

 private initiative, receives a subvention from the State. 



Other co-operative societies in Holland deal with stock- 

 breeding and agricultural insurance. 



Belgium. 



In Belgium, as shown by the latest available figures, for 

 1909, agricultural organisation would seem to have spread 

 throughout the country with such thoroughness as to cover 

 every possible interest. 



Of the agricultural cornices, which hold shows and exhibi- 

 tions, carry on experimental farms, and answer mainly to 

 our own type of agricultural societies, there were in 1909 a 

 total of 160, with nearly 38,000 members, and they held 

 in that year 6 district and 96 cantonal shows. 



Agricultural " leagues " in Belgium are mostly village or 

 communal organisations corresponding to our agricultural 

 co-operative societies. They generally start with collective 

 purchase of farm requisites, and afterwards occupy them- 

 selves with credit, insurance, live-stock improvement, etc ■ 

 furthering these aims by affiliation with a cantonal, regional 

 or national federation. The total number of leagues in 



