364 Chambers of Agriculture in Prussia. [sept., 



smell, 5 ; contents of water and milk (working), 10 ; appear- 

 ance (colour, &c.), 5 ; consistency and hardness, 5 ; making a total 

 jof 50 points. Butter with 48 to 50 points is called and sampled 

 as very fine, 45 to 47 points fine, 40 to 44 points good, 30 to 39 

 points second class, below 30 inferior. 



At the close of the show or competition a criticism of the 

 whole is published by the Chamber of Agriculture. All com- 

 petitors receive a report of the competition and every competitor 

 awarded 45 points three times or 48 points twice receives a 

 diploma. Special prizes are given for particularly good ex- 

 hibits. Full reports are published in the provincial agricultural 

 papers. 



The Chamber also encourages and controls mutual associa- 

 tions for seed growing, which have proved a great boon to 

 small-holders who are unable to pay high prices to dealers for 

 seed. 



Fruit-farming is another branch in which the assistance of the 

 Chamber of Agriculture has been a great success ; the Chamber 

 endeavours to compel sellers of fruit trees to guarantee abso- 

 lutely the variety and reliability of the article they sell. It has 

 founded sixty-six fruiterers' associations and staited a fruit- 

 sellers' co-operative society at Bonn, with the result that fruit 

 in the Rhenish province has improved in quality. The Chamxber 

 of Agriculture managed the exhibition of fruit and vegetables 

 in Dusseldorf in 1904. During that year (spring to autumn) 

 fortnightly shows were held for various varieties of produce in 

 Connection with fruit, vegetables and flowers. The exhibits 

 made by the associations were particularly noteworthy ; at this 

 international exhibition the Rhenish province won a very large 

 number of medals and prizes. 



The Chamber of Agriculture has at its disposal a State fund 

 for supplying fruit trees at reduced prices and funds are also 

 applied to help small holders to purchase trees. Assistance is 

 given up to one-half the value of the trees ; one person 

 cannot receive more than twelve trees. Application has to be 

 made to the Chamber of Agriculture through some farmers' 

 club or association. The club or association has to supervise 

 the planting and to see that proper care is given to the 

 .trees. The Chamber of Agriculture reserves to itself the 



