increased 50 per cent and that of straw over 16 per cent, the application of such fertilizers having at an outlay of 95 francs per hectare increased the total yield by 240 francs, or having added 145 francs net value to the crop from one hectare.

(2) In a similar way, by the use of 400 kilos of nitrate of soda immediately after planting a hectare of land was made to yield. 75,000 kilos of forage beets (ovoïde-des-Barres) whereas a hectare alongside, not so treated, only yielded 54,000 kilos. This cor

responded to an increase of 39 per cent, while the value of the increase was 315 francs, the expense of fertilizer being only 118 francs, or, in other words, the increase in value was nearly 200 francs per hectare.

(3) In the same way the yield of black Étampes oats was increased from 2,250 kilos (or 45 hectoliters) of grain and 3,950 kilos of straw, to 3,060 kilos (or 60 hectoliters) of grain and 4,900 kilos of straw per hectare, or an increase of 810 kilos of grain and 1,050 of straw for an outlay of 85 francs.

(4) A field of white forage carrots, being treated with 400 kilos. each of nitrate and superphosphate, yielded 75,000 instead of 50,000 kilos of roots, or an increase of 50 per cent.

Such experiment fields are common at all the Agronomic stations and are generally not the property of the station but of private cultivators who volunteer to furnish them according to the following conditions: The farmer loans from 30 to 60 acres of land for a term, generally from 3 to 6 years, and furnishes without cost all the barnyard manure and native wheat or other seed which may be required. He also furnishes the labor of his farm hands and horses, and the use of his instruments, etc., and agrees to scrupulously obey the directions given by the directors of the experiment station, and observe the exact weight of all manures and seeds used. In return he receives the whole crop from the experiment field, save such amounts as are required for samples for analysis or collections. The State or Department pays for all choice seeds and for all chemical fertilizers used other than farmyard manure, as well as all extra expenses. These experiment fields, as well as similar ones for demonstration, are always open to the public, and all necessary information is liberally given at the experiment station. Care is taken to locate them as near as possible to villages and railway stations, and as often as possible upon public highways, and an accurate account is kept. of all data and particulars concerning them.

Plans of the laboratories of the Agronomic stations at Melun (Seine-et-Marne) (Plate VI) and at Dijon (Côte d'Or) (Plate VII) are here given. The former station, founded in 1875, has a fine collection of apparatus and a small experiment field of its own. It is principally engaged in general analytical work, but also makes researches upon vegetable physiology and fertilizers.

REGIONAL FAIRS-HONORS AND SPECIAL PRIZES.

(1) Butcher's Fairs.-The first of these fairs was instituted at Poissy in 1844 in order "to increase the number of animals fit for slaughter, and to favor the propagation of races which by their precocity would furnish the most meat for consumption, and also to encourage the improvement of such farms as were recognized as being best for the production of meat from races native to France." Since 1850, the date of the institution of fat cattle fairs at Bordeaux, Lyons, Lille, and Nantes, the Poissy fair has been transformed into a general exhibition, and since 1868 has been held annually at Paris in February, in the Palais de l'Industrie. To it has been added an exhibition of animals for breeding purposes, of poultry (live and dead), of butter and cheese, and of various farm products. The expenses of these fairs have been :

(2) Regional Fairs.-The fairs instituted with a view to encourage the amelioration of breeding-animals (bovine, ovine, and porcine), and of the best poultry, the use of instruments and agricultural machinery date back to 1849, when they were held in connection with the Agronomic Institute at Versailles. In 1851 three regional fairs were organized, and also one general fair. The success of these having exceeded all expectation the number of regional fairs was increased each year. Up to 1850 France was divided into ten of these regions; in that year the number was increased to twelve; in 1886 it was reduced to six, and was finally fixed at eight in 1888.

At each fair, in accordance with a fixed custom, several objects of art are awarded to the best group of animals, consisting of one male and three females of the same race, all raised by the exhibitor. A sum of money and several silver and bronze medals are distributed among those who have had the care of prize animals.

Special competitions for agricultural instruments and machines. are organized, either to be held at the same times with the above fairs or separately at convenient periods, according to the uses to which the machines are put, etc., and prizes in money or in medals are given. A sum of money, with medals, is also distributed among the workmen and foremen of exhibitors who have taken prizes. The expenses of material, installation, etc., are borne by the governments of the towns where such competitions are held, while the rev

enue from admission fees is exclusively reserved for the town treasury, as also is the sum derived from the sale of catalogues or prize lists.

These regional fairs have had great influence upon the progress of French agriculture. The expenses of some of them have been as follows:

(3) Prizes of Honor and special Prizes.-The prize of honor was founded in 1856, in order to recompense the agriculturists in the department in which the best regional fair was held. In 1869, in order to encourage all efforts which had any tendency toward general progress in agriculture, several categories of prizes of honor were created. Since then, in 1885, special prizes have been instituted, such as prizes for irrigation, recompenses for small cultivation, for horticulture, for rural journals, etc.

FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY.*

Specially organized agronomic stations do not exist in Hungary, but researches and analyses are made at the agricultural institutes by special professors in laboratories placed at their disposal. These laboratories are well equipped and there is a sufficiency of experiment fields and stables. It is thought advantageous not to separate agronomic stations from such institutes where there is already a well-instructed personnel, good libraries, and many other resources. There are six principal localities where agronomic researches are carried on: The veterinary school at Pesth, the academy at MagyarOvar, and the institutes at Keszthely, Debreczin, Kolosz-Monostor and Kassa.

Seed-testing Stations.-There are six of these at the above-mentioned institutions; they are all organized upon one plan and are independent of the institutions at which they are located. They have surveillance over commerce in grain and seeds and in other important farm and garden products. They protect the cultivator from fraud and aid him in the selection of the best seed; they test the purity and germinative power of seeds and the brewing quality

* For the statement from these countries I am greatly indebted to a paper read before the Agricultural Congress at Paris, 1889, by I. Maday.