852 Progress of Agriculture in Belgium. [Jan., 



a year after award on production of evidence that the animals 

 have been retained in the country for breeding purposes ; and 

 the latter after the birth of a foal by an approved sire. "The 

 same animal may receive a premium once as a filly and once 

 as a mare, but not more. 



Subsidies are granted to horse shows and competitions for 

 the purpose of providing prizes for horses bred from the 

 stallions imported with the aid of the Government or recog- 

 nised as suitable for breeding purposes. Subsidies not exceed- 

 ing £2 per head are also awarded for grass land on which 

 foals from approved stallions are pastured. 



Cattle Breeding. — The encouragement of cattle breeding 

 is effected by means of premiums for bulls, cows, and small 

 herds, and by small grants to promote the formation of breed- 

 ing and herdbook societies. The premiums supplement and 

 are equal in amount to the premiums awarded by the Canton ; 

 they are awarded on the result of the judging at a number of 

 local competitions held for the purpose, the judges being a 

 permanent body who travel from one place to another. These 

 competitions or shows are on the simplest scale, lasting for 

 one day only and being confined merely to the judging of the 

 animals exhibited. The premiums granted by the State and 

 the Canton are not to amount together to less than £/\ for 

 each bull or cow. They are not actually awarded for nine 

 months after the competition in order that satisfactory 

 evidence may be produced of the use of the animals for breed- 

 ing purposes. The judging is based on a system of points 

 according to a fixed scale. 



Goats and Pigs. — Premiums are given under similar con- 

 ditions for boars and goats. 



In order to encourage breeders to exhibit at foreign live 

 stock shows, grants may be made for defraying the expense 

 of transport and insurance of the animals. 



The progress of agriculture in Belgium appears during 

 recent years to have been somewhat striking. In a note 

 attached to the Budget of the Depart- 

 Progress of Agriculture ment of Agriculture for 1909 some 

 in Belgium. figures are given which show that 



there has been a steady increase in the 

 produce of some of the leading crops, while at the same time 



