568 State Assistance to Agriculture in Denmark, [oct., 



State Aid to Agriculture. — The Royal Danish Agricul- 

 tural Society, in addition to being the oldest, is also the most 

 scientific agricultural society in Denmark. The object of the 

 society is to encourage agriculture and agricultural indus- 

 tries. It is controlled by a self-elected council from a mem- 

 bership of about 770 persons. The Ministry of Agriculture 

 applies to it for advice (as, for instance, in drafting new laws 

 bearing on agricultural subjects), and has also deputed to the 

 society some of the work connected with the Agricultural 

 Advisers (Landdkonomiske Konsulenter). The Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society keeps in touch with the various district agri- 

 cultural societies (Amts Landboforeninger) by means of 

 representatives residing in the district. 



The number of local agricultural societies in Denmark is 

 115, with a total of some 84,500 members, who pay 

 subscriptions amounting to Kr. 196,000 (^10,900). The 

 State subvention to these local societies for the year 1909-10 

 (exclusive of prizes and travelling expenses for small-holders 

 and pig-breeders) was Kr. 193,000 (,£10,730). The object of 

 the societies (which were founded at various dates from 1810 

 onwards during the whole of the nineteenth century) is to 

 promote general agricultural development by means of lec- 

 tures and debates, cattle shows and exhibitions, prizes for 

 well-kept allotments, local field experiments, the foundation 

 of smaller associations for a special object, and so on. The 

 State subvention above-mentioned is contributed towards 

 defraying the expenses of Advisers (Konsulenter). the mem- 

 bers of the societies being able to apply to the Adviser for 

 advice on special subjects on the recommendation of the Pro- 

 vincial Association of Amalgamated Societies. In addition, 

 the State subvention contributes towards the cost of prizes 

 at cattle shows, lectures, and plant culture. 



The subscriptions to these societies are small, as are those 

 from the district societies to the Provincial Association of 

 Amalgamated Societies. These last correspond direct with 

 the Ministry of Agriculture on provincial matters, while on 

 questions of more general importance such correspondence 

 goes through "The Co-operating Danish Agricultural Socie- 

 ties" (Samvirkende Danske Landboforeninger). A member 

 of a local society has an idea which he fancies might be sue- 



