1910.] Improvement of Live Stock in Switzerland. 851 



In the spring when the hop plant begins to throw up 

 shoots, it is customary in this country to thin out and throw 

 away the shoots, leaving only two or 

 Hop Shoots as a three to each plant. In some Contin- 

 Vegetable. ental countries, however, these hop 



shoots are used as a vegetable, being 

 gathered when from four to five inches long, and boiled and 

 eaten like asparagus. 



They are most largely employed in this way in Belgium, 

 where, according to information furnished by the Ministry of 

 Agriculture, the shoots are gathered from about 2,500 acres 

 of hops. The average production is about 70 lb. per acre. 

 They are sold fresh, and are also supplied to preserving 

 factories. They are among the earliest spring vegetables, 

 and appear on the bill of fare of all the large restaurants in 

 Belgium from the beginning of March. 



The encouragement by the State of the breeding of live 

 stock in Switzerland dates from 1893, when a law for the pur- 

 pose was passed and an annual sum 

 Improvement of Live first voted. The efforts of the Govern- 

 Stock in Switzerland. men t are chiefly directed towards 

 supplementing the work of the Cantons, 

 and the following is a summary of the measures taken : — 



Horse Breeding. — The Government undertake to purchase 

 suitable stallions on behalf of the Cantons and pays one-half 

 of the purchase-money. The Cantons lease these stallions to 

 breeders and are required to supervise their use under proper 

 conditions for breeding purposes during at least six years. 

 After six years the Government may re-purchase an animal 

 or declare it unfit for breeding purposes, either with or with- 

 out compensation, or may grant the breeder an annual subsidy 

 of five per cent, upon its estimated value. In addition, 

 stallions are lent to Cantons for short periods from the State 

 stud. 



In the case of brood mares and fillies premiums are 

 awarded to animals chosen annually by judges appointed for 

 the purpose by the Government. The premiums amount to 

 . £2 8s. for fillies from two to three years old, and £8 16s. 

 for mares from three to five years old, the former being paic| 



