Dec' 1895.] 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES, 



837 



construction of cattle sheds, roads, and irrigation works, survey- 

 ing, &c. The present rapid increase in the subsidies under this 

 head will probably not be maintained ; it appears to bs due to 

 the scheme having been introduced only shortly before 1890. 

 The grants sanctioned in 1894 amounted to 8,591^. for 81 under- 

 takings. The number of works undertaken with promise of 

 State aid in the five years 1893-94 were respectively 40, 100, 

 109, 106, and 81, many of which are, of course, not yet completed, 

 and consequently not paid for. 



The Federal Council exercises a general control over the 

 means adopted for combating the phylloxera and other agricul- 

 tural parasites; and cantons which have taken proper measures 

 in this direction can recover up to 50 per cent, of their expenses 

 from the State. These amounts are annually provided for in 

 the Budget. 



The Federal Council also assists the cantons in their endea- 

 vours with regard to the insurance of cattle and insurance against 

 hail. Such subsidies may be granted to cantons where obliga- 

 tory insurance of cattle is enforced (whether for the whole 

 canton or for a part only). The sums on account of damage by 

 hail are paid to such cantons as assist insurance by bearing the 

 expenses of the policy, by contributing to the payment of the 

 premiums, and by forming a reserve capital. In no case, 

 however, must the sum allotted by the State exceed the amount 

 given by the canton. 



Besides the above, the State subsidises certain societies and 

 agricultural syndicates. In the use of these grants the interests 

 of the " petite exploitation " must be especially borne in mind. 

 Special indemnities for works executed at the request of the 

 Government may be granted to the principal agricultural 

 societies. 



Grants are also given towards general agricultural exhibitions, 

 which are held at intervals of not less than six years in various 

 parts of the country. Such grants can only be employed as 

 part of the prizes. Exceptionally, grants may be made to special 

 exhibitions (whether national or cantonal), provided they do 

 not take place in the same year as a general exhibition. 



Co-operation among Fruit-Growers in Oregon. 



The Report of the Department of Agriculture of British 

 Columbia for the year 1894 contains information relating to the 

 Oregon Fruit Union, which is an association founded by a 

 number of fruit-growers, whose object is to buy and sell all 

 kinds of farm and orchard produce ; and to transact a general 

 commission and agency business. In the prospectus of the 

 union the object is further defined as being one to facilitate the 

 marketing of Oregon green and dried fruits ; to make it possible 

 for the small grower to be able to dispose of his fruit with as 

 0 89185. r 



