Report on the Agriculture of Behjium. 
79 
The only thing: that struck us as still wanting was the teaching 
of agriculture. If the schoolmaster had ten or a dozen acres of 
land for his own benefit, on condition that he gave the boys 
lessons in Practical Agriculture, while he should have the advan- 
tage of their labour at certain times, we believe that the result 
would, in the course of time, have a good effect on la petite 
mlture in the kingdom. 
Taxes, including government, local, and personal imposts, 
range from 3s. 6r/. to bs. per acre, in different districts.* 
4. Agricultural Education. — Under this head we ha^ e to notice 
the State Agricultural College at Gembloux, which was estab- 
lished in 1860. The first volume of its 'Bulletin' comprises 
the history of the establishment for the eight years 1860 to 1867 
inclusive. It appears that 166 students had been admitted ; but 
that only 21 had passed the examinations, which entitle the 
students to the diploma of " Ingenieur Agricole." About one-half 
of these passed students were foreigners, four being Cubans and 
two Spaniards. The staff consists of seven professors, three de- 
monstrators, and other officials ; and the total cost to the Govern- 
ment is about 3300/. per annum. Attached to the College is a 
farm of 160 acres, which is worked with a capital of about 
2300/. advanced by the State, Notwithstanding that 20 acres of 
this land is devoted to experimental and educational purposes, 
the profit on the whole extent was, as stated in the ' Bulletin,' 
in 1867 no less than 375/., or more than IG^ per cent. 
These statements show that while, on the one hand, the 
College is not an expensive appendage to the State department 
of Agriculture, on the other its influence is not very great ; 166 
students in eight years, only 79, or less than half, of whom were 
Belgian, cannot be considered a very brilliant commencement 
for a State College in a nation of farmers. The paucity of 
students cannot be attributed to the expensiveness of the college ; 
* According to M. Leclerc, landed property in Belgium is taxed by the 
Government, the province, and tlie parish. The basis of this taxation is the rate- 
able value as fixed by the surveyor, and is generally 25 per cent, less than the 
annual value. The Government taxes vary a little in different parts of the country, 
the average amount being 6^^ per cent. (6Z. 14s. per lOOZ.) of the rateable value. 
The provincial taxes amount on the average to 15 per cent, of those paid to the 
Government, while the parochial taxes vary from 5 to 50 per cent, of that amount. 
There are no special taxes on the land for the support of the poor. In addition 
the farmer pays personal taxes to the State, the province, and the parish. The 
roads, bridges, &c., are kept in repair by the State, or by the provinces or com- 
munes which have constructed them. The cost of their maintenance is defrayed 
out of the ordinary funds, no special tax being levied for the purpose. In the 
case of communal roads, when the ordinary resources are insufficient, each rate- 
payer must contribute either in kind or by an equivalent payment in mone)'. The 
payment in kind includes one or two days' work to be furnished by each head of a 
family, according to his importance, and two days' work for each horse or beast of 
burden. 
