1909.] Agricultural Education in the Netherlands. 375 



the Province, and his services in testing milk for, and giving 

 advice to, dairy farmers are of great value and much appre- 

 ciated. At Goes it was evident that the Director was 

 thoroughly conversant with the agriculture of the whole 

 Province of Zeeland. Advice is given to farmers on all 

 branches of farm work. 



The pupils who take these winter courses proceed with 

 farm work at the close of their course. A winter school is 

 not in any way a stepping-stone to the Higher State Agricul- 

 tural College at Wageningen. 



Winter Schools in Horticulture. — Horticulture is a very 

 important industry in the Netherlands. There are four 

 winter schools in horticulture, which are situated at Boskoop, 

 Tiel, Aalsmeer, and Naaldwijk. The course in these schools 

 extends over two winters, and is open to young gardeners, 

 just as the agricultural schools are for young farmers. The 

 teaching given is of a thoroughly practical character. In the 

 school at Boskoop, which was visited, the pupils must have 

 had practical experience before entering, and they work in 

 the nurseries around Boskoop while taking the course. They 

 must also, at the end of their course, work for a time in the 

 Netherlands or elsewhere to complete their practical train- 

 ing in the special branch of horticulture they have adopted. 



Analytical Stations for Manures and Feeding-stuffs 

 in the Netherlands. — There are six of these in all, which 

 cost the State annually from ,£9,000 to ;£ 10,000 for salaries 

 and about ,£3,000 for apparatus, &c, while about ,£3,000 are 

 received in analytical fees. 



An opportunity was taken of inspecting the Station at Goes, 

 in the Province of Zeeland. Over 3,000 analyses of manures, 

 feeding-stuffs, &c, are made annually at this station for 

 farmers. Linseed cake is the principal feeding-stuff used. 

 The fees charged are about is. 8d. for each ingredient esti- 

 mated. About 1,000 analyses of sugar-beet are also made 

 annually, this crop being largely grown in the province. 



The manures and feeding-stuffs analysed at this station 

 are purchased for the farmers, and sent for analysis prin- 

 cipally through the village co-operative societies. The 

 Directors of these stations have the confidence of both the 

 farmers and the merchants, and act as umpires in any case 



