PART I 



The Rural Economy of Belgium 



I. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



The following data are taken from the general agricul- 

 tural census of 1896 and from the-aiinual statistics issued 

 since 1900. The latter only include farms of at least 

 i hectare (1) and upwards. 



The total area of Belgium is 2,946,567 hectares, of which 

 in 1896, 2, 607,614 hectares were cultivated and distributed 

 under the following : 



hectares 



Wheat 180,377 



Spelt 33,854 



Meslin 18,446 



Cereals Rye 283,376 



and farinaceous Barley 40,243 



products Oats 248.694 



Buckwheat 4,701 



Total . . . 809,691 



Horse-beans 15,965 



Leguminosae Peas and vetches - - * 0,360 



Total . . . 26,325 



Hemp 611 



Flax 30,615 



Rape and other oil producing 



plants 1,807 



Industrial plants Tobacco 2,148 



| Hops 3,705 



I Chicory 12,756 



/ Sugar beet 54,099 



1 Total . . . 105,741 



(1) One hectare contains one hundred ares and is equal to 

 ^7 english acres. 



