2o Belgian Department of Agriculture, [april, 1904.] 



■courses of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Market gardening, 

 etc., instituted by the Department of Agriculture. 



The staff of State Agriculturists numbers twenty-three, who 

 have to send to the Central Administration reports relating to 

 their lectures, the state of crops and experiment fields, the 

 associations of farmers, and as to markets and shows, agri- 

 cultural implements, rural industries, and on the sanitary con- 

 dition of Cattle. The Agricultural Inspectors superintend the 

 service of State Agriculturists, and the Central Administration 

 is able to follow the work done by the latter by the general 

 journey table annexed to their annual report. 



The honorary functions of a " Correspondent of the Ad- 

 ministration of Agriculture " are fulfilled by specialists who 

 give the State Agriculturists precise information on various 

 subjects. 



Advice to farmers is published in the form of leaflets. The 

 State Agriculturists distribute these leaflets, when they give 

 their lectures or through their correspondents, or through the 

 professors of public courses. 



Experiment and Demonstration Fields are also arranged 

 under their supervision. They are established on land easily 

 accessible to the public and representing the average conditions 

 of a widely extended zone. The experiment fields are 

 established, as far as possible, on plots of land belonging to 

 intelligent farmers who possess good implements, close to the 

 places in which courses of lectures for adults are given, and to 

 establishments in which courses in agriculture are provided. 

 In this way they are a useful adjunct to the theoretical in- 

 struction. Whatever land is chosen, the soil must be uniform, 

 and not close to tree plantations, enclosures, or buildings ; and 

 the whole plot chosen must have been submitted to the same 

 rotation and had the same application of manures. The experi- 

 menter must prepare and keep the soil in good cultivation and 

 condition, and supply the necessary farm manure. The crops 

 belong to him, but the State Agriculturist may take samples 

 for experimental purposes. Seeds, roots, and chemical manures 

 are provided by the Department of Agriculture, and the results 

 obtained are published in the Bulletin de r Agriculture. 



