June 1896.] 



FOREIGN OFFICE REPORTS. 



75 



basis of milk, is also exported, one-third of which goes to 

 England. 



The farmers themselves select managers for their cheese 

 factories, and the standard of quality being maintained, there is 

 no difficulty in selling the produce, for the competition among 

 the cheese and butter merchants keeps the price up. In the 

 canton of Berne alone there are about 100 of these middlemen. 



To show the attention paid to agriculture by the Government, 

 it is stated that the budget expenditure has trebled in seven 

 years, viz. from 49,000/. in 1888 to 150,200/. in 1895. This 

 latter sum was divided as follows : — 





Amount. 





Federal. 



Cantonal. 



Total. 



Agricultural schools- - 

 Aid to farmers - 

 Improvement of stock - 

 Sundries, prizes, &c. • - 



£ 



4,200 

 18,000 

 15,000 

 34,800 



£ 



8,400 

 20,000 

 10,000 

 39,600 



12,600 

 38,000 

 25,000 

 74,400 



Total - 



72,000 



78,000 



150,000 



There are 16 agricultural schools, with 400 students, at 16/. a 

 year each. Last year the expenditure averaged 46/. for each 

 student, the difference being made up by the Cantonal and 

 Federal subventions, amounting to 8,750/. and 4,300/. respectively. 



In addition to these there were, in 11 cantons, 108 complete 

 courses of lectures given, and also 825 separate lectures on agri- 

 cultural matters, the deficits being made up by a subvention of 

 1,250/. from the Commune, 650/. from the Federal Government, 

 arid a similar amount from various societies interested. 



The f< aid to farmers " above mentioned was made on the 

 occasion of the failure of the hay crop, when the Government 

 purchased maize, which it resold to the farmers without profit, 

 so as to prevent their being obliged to make forced sales of their 

 stock. 



The average price of wheat in Berne in 1894 was 20 fr. per 

 100 kilos., or about 35s. per quarter of 8 bushels of 62 lbs. 

 Potatoes were 8 fr. per 100 kilos., or 6s. 8c/. per 225 lbs. 

 Butter was 2 fr. 30 c. to 3 fr. 20 c. per kilo., or an average of Is. 

 per lb., but it appears that the butter sent from the dairy school 

 at Eiitti to Paris averaged, delivered there, 3f fr. per kilo., or 

 Is 4c/. per lb. ; milk was sold at 18 c. a litre, or 6d. a gallon in 

 winter, and eggs at about 10c/. a dozen. Wages are reported 

 to have been 3 fr. 50 c. (about 3s.) a day for labourers (Swiss), 

 though Italian labour, which is equally gocd, is somewhat 

 cheaper. 



