1909.] State Assistance in Switzerland. 865 



cially feels the necessity for a permanent class able to guaran- 

 tee the permanence of its institutions, and to provide recruits 

 for the army. 



The intervention of the State in favour of agriculture, apart 

 from measures to prevent cattle disease and phylloxera, was 

 first shown in measures for regulating the mountain streams. 

 This was followed by legislation having for its object not 

 only the regulation of mountain streams, but of the forests 

 from which they are fed. In 1893 a law was passed for the 

 promotion of agriculture by the Confederation, which is based 

 on the principle that the Federal Government should issue 

 laws and regulations, which the Cantons are to carry into 

 effect under the superintendence of, and with subsidies from, 

 the Confederation, to which the Cantons also contribute. 



Federal subsidies may be granted in accordance with the 

 above-mentioned law to : — (1) Agricultural instruction by the 

 Cantons. This is generally carried out by means of tem- 

 porary classes in the winter months. (2) Establishments for 

 research and experiments. These exist in Zurich for agri- 

 cultural chemistry and the control of seeds. Similar institu- 

 tions exist at Berne and Lausanne. (3) The improvement of 

 the breed of cattle. The annual sum expended is now 

 ,£28,000 which is almost exclusively spent on acquiring bulls. 

 •(4) Cattle insurance, of which there are two branches : (a) 

 compulsory insurance against cattle diseases, fixed by law; 

 (b) local insurance offices of a uniform type, in which assur- 

 ance is compulsory for all proprietors. (5) The improvement 

 of the soil, whether by drainage or irrigation. In 1906 sub- 

 sidies amounting to ,£34,800 were granted to 308 under- 

 takings of this description. (6) Measures taken by the Can- 

 tons against diseases of plants, insurance against hail, &c. 

 (7) Agricultural societies and syndicates. Amongst those 

 which have benefited by State subsidies are the societies Tor 

 the encouragement of cattle breeding. 



There is a large number of agricultural societies which 

 have had considerable influence in determining the votes on 

 economic questions, submitted to the popular vote. They 

 form together a large group, the "Union des Paysans " 

 numbering about 100,000 members. No special facilities are 

 at present afforded by the State for the acquisition of land. 



