922 Improvement of Agriculture in Sweden, [feb., 



Apart from education and research, the system of State 

 aid in Sweden may be said briefly to represent the encourage- 

 ment of individual effort by grants to 



Improvement of societies and associations which are 

 Agriculture in Sweden, managed by the members on lines 

 prescribed by regulations made by the 

 Ministry of Agriculture. 



Although much variation exists, the organisation under 

 the Department of Agriculture may be said to centre in the 

 Societies of Rural Economy, of which there is one, or some- 

 times two, to each Province. These are responsible for the 

 agricultural interests of their district, and are the official 

 representatives of agriculture locally. They act as the inter- 

 mediaries between the Government and the farmer in all 

 matters relating to the promotion of agriculture. Their 

 income is derived, to a limited extent, from the subscriptions 

 (usually very small) of members, from a grant made from 

 the tax on alcoholic liquors, and from State subventions. 

 These funds are in turn used for making grants to other 

 societies for special purposes, and many of the State subven- 

 tions are distributed through these Provincial Societies, on 

 the condition that they contribute an equal amount from 

 their own funds. The purposes for which these subventions 

 are given are very numerous, but among them may be 

 mentioned the following : — 



Seed Control Stations. — There are 17 Stations, established 

 by the Provincial Societies, which receive small grants from 

 the State, not exceeding £55 each annually. They test the 

 purity and germination of seed at certain fixed charges, and 

 give advice to farmers and seed merchants. 



Chemical Stations for the Analysis of Fertilisers and 

 Feeding Stuffs. — These are often attached to the Seed Control 

 Stations, and receive grants in the same way. In both cases 

 the staff, methods of testing, scale of charges, etc., have to 

 be approved by the Department of Agriculture. 



Butter Control. — In order to maintain the reputation of 

 Swedish butter abroad, a system of examining butter intended 

 for export was adopted in 1909. The butter from each dairy 

 is examined without notice three or four times a year, and if 

 it is found to come up to the standard the dairy is allowed 

 to use a special registered trade-mark. 



