II. OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL 



ASSOCIATIONS 



A great number of societies have been formed in 

 Belgium for the advancement of agriculture, horti- 

 culture, etc. 



The official agricultural societies were established in 

 1848. 



Most of the agricultural guilds were instituted during 

 the years 1894, i8g5 and 1896. 



Prior to 1898 the number of Agricultural cooperative 

 societies and mutual insurance associations was insigni- 

 i'icniit. 



It is only since that year that real progress has been 

 made towards the establishment of these societies (i). 



The Government has favoured this movement by gran- 

 ting subsidies, by the institution of lectures showing the 

 use of these societies, by publishing model statutes and by 

 the establishment of a Bureau in which free information 

 is given upon all subjects concerning agricultural asso- 

 ciations. 



A sum of 137,000 francs is granted yearly to the official 

 agricultural associations. 



The subsidies to private associations are ruled as 

 follows : 



I. - - AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 



ESTABLISHED ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THE 3l st MARCH 1898 



*'l. Local and cantonal Associations 



1 Subsidies arc granted to help these bodies to buy 

 agricultural implements and machines which remain 

 the property of the union and are to be used by 

 members. These subsidies are equal to one fifth of the 



(i) Sec : Experiment Station Record, vol. <j, 1897, 11 i, pp. 3-19, 

 Agricultural Associations in Belgium, by P. DE VUVST. 



