191 1.] State Aid to Agriculture in Norway. 1007 



advancement of agriculture and dairying, and as they 

 naturally come into close contact with the country popula- 

 tion, they have every opportunity of ascertaining the condi- 

 tions of the various districts. Proposals made by the Central 

 Administration with respect to the carrying out of any new 

 measures, are, as a rule, sent to the officials concerned for 

 any remarks they may have to make before these are sub- 

 mitted to the Storthing, but the Central Authorities have 

 frequently appointed special committees of experts when 

 questions requiring more detailed inquiry were being dis- 

 cussed. 



In addition to this advisory staff, there are several State 

 establishments with special functions, viz., three chemical 

 stations (including seed testing), two experimental stations 

 for plant culture, three milk inspecting establishments, and 

 three sheep breeding farms. 



Aid to Agricultural Societies. — In each of the eighteen 

 "amts" of the country there exists an agricultural society, 

 and these societies are branches of the Royal Society for the 

 Welfare of Norway. The work of this Society has mainly 

 consisted in taking the initiative in new measures for the 

 advancement of agriculture. When arrangements made by 

 the Society are found to be of practical advantage and are 

 working satisfactorily, they are taken in hand by the Central 

 Administration. The Society also undertakes special work, 

 mainly of a scientific nature. The State grant to this 

 Society amounts to between ,£1,667 an d .£2,222 per annum. 



The State contributes, towards the expenses of the local 

 agricultural societies, an amount equivalent to the sums sub- 

 scribed by the various districts. The agricultural society in 

 Finmarken (the most northern "amt " in Norway) forms, 

 however, an exception, as it is supported entirely by -the 

 State. The State grants to the agricultural societies amount 

 to about ;£ 1 1,000 per annum. In most of the six hundred 

 communes in Norway there are agricultural associations 

 which are subsidiary to the Societies. 



Attached to the agricultural societies are a number of 

 travelling officials, whose work it is to advise and instruct 

 the country population in their county in regard to agricul- 

 tural and kindred matters. The county agriculturists, of 



