The record-union., 1895-02-14
AGRICULTURE IN AUSTRIA.
Results of Fifteen Years Work ct the
Minister of Agriculture.
Scientific Methods of Farming Are Sc
ing Taught in Government IRAN
ing Schools.

$3.50 900 wherewith to do all thaI 10 has
20 do: while the French Minister OF Agli-
culture has this year budget OF 5Hl'U4''oVo'
and the Prussian Minister one OF 4o'5,ooO.
Nor has he the full control even OF TINS
935O, 900: the military authorities require
him to devote more than third OF IL 10
keeping ND che State studs. Thus he has
little more than $500, 900 a year to spend
on furthering the interests OF the agrlcul1-
wrists, a small sum considering how soreIy
in Austria, as elsewhere, they STAND III
need of help. Count Falkenhayn, now
ever, is an adept in the art OF making
scant means go far; ne never speuds
pound until he Is quite sure that Inc
same result may not be ob6alned Dy
spending ten shilIings, and he has All
sorts OF devices Tor helping, at trllllng
cost, farmers to help themselves. Onuer
his rule the Austrian Ministry OF Agrl-
culture is become model OF careful Or
gauization and economy.
The work to which for years Count
Falkenhayn has been specially deVotlHg
himself is the promotion of technical
teaching in agriculture. AS early as 1891
a Chair of Agriculture was founded at tne
Prague University, ana about the same
time an attempt was made to organize
regular system of technical education Tor
made, however, the French war came to
put stop to the work, and from that
time up to 1868, Austrian agrlculIurlsts
were practically lett TO their own devices.
Then a separate Ministry for Agriculture
was formed and placed under the dlrec-
ton OF Herr PotocllI, who at once set TO
work To organize schools of agriculture.
But these were trOubIOus days Ill Austria,
and during the first eleven years the
Ministry for Agriculture was in eXISJ-
ence, its chief was changed no less tnan
nine times. We can hardly wonder,
therefore, that when in 1879 Count taI-
kenhayn was appointed to the office he
found very little had been done toward
bringing technical teaching within the
reach of the farmers. His predecessors
had, il is true, foTmulated schemes; but 1t
was left for him 10 reduce them 10 prac-
tice. And this he has done with consid-
cradle success.
There are now five different kinds of
schools of agriculture in Austria. The
Agricultural High school in Vienna is a
SIate-suppOrted. State-directed college,
where the instruction given Is thoroughly
scientific. NO student Is admitted until
he has passed his matriculatiOn eNamina-
ton, and he must remain there three
years 10 obtain q certificate. 1t is in
tended especially for the training OF
teachers and lecturers, and of the man
ayers OF large estates. The Middle
Schools, of which there are now sixteen,
were founded TO provide those vino wish
10 be farmers with technical education.
Each school is managed by local com
mlttee Of agrlculturISLs, under the sur
Vigilance OF the Minister OF Agriculture.
Iwenty-slN per cent. OF the working eX-
penses OF these institutions is paid
by the state, - per cent. by the au-
thOrIues o. the province IN which
they are situated ana l6 per cent. by the
agricultural uuIODS-Ihat Is, local land
owners. The Lower Schools, which are
supported ana managed IL the same way
as the Middle Schools, are for the educa-
ton of the sons OF peasant proprIetors.
small farmers, DalIltfs, etc. In these the
instruction IS IN great measure practical.
Not only are the boys taught the newest
theories with regard TO The science of ag-
ricutture but they are made TO apply
them, nuer careful surveillance they
do all the various kinds OF work that
fail To farmer. Then there are thirty
seven special schools of agriculture, III
each OF which some one branch is taught
as dairy work, gardening, hop-growing,
sllkworm rearing, vine cultivation, etc.
There are are also many forestry schools
and State college at kIosUerneuburg for
the training OF truIt-growers. And quite
recently chairs OF agriculture have bee.1
founded al SIX technical high schools.
Winter schools are q feature OF agri-
cultural education IN which the Austrian
Minister attaches greatimportance. They
are certainly a most useful institution as
they give agTlculturlsts, VINO are too poor
10 spare the time to go regularly 10
school," q chance OF learning something
of the science OF their craft. They are
open only during the months teamwork
is al standstil- When possible an eX-
pertinent held Is attached 10 each school,
and then the students can see the meth
~ h.a,
being tried IN spring and summer. The
experiment neluS are cultivated by ex-
perts ia the employment of the State, and
il is part o: their regular days work TO
explain 10 all corners the reasons for
adopting one method OF cultivation rather
than another. The Minister OF AgricuIt-
ure has also under his control fifteen ex-
pertinent farms, where the same sort OF
work is done as in the fields, only on a
much more elaborate scale. lie supports,
too, laboratory in Vienna for research
in subjects bearing on agriculture.
\ special arrangement Is made for the
benent OF the peasant propTietors and
farmers who are too old or too busy to at
tend any sort OF classes. Agricultural
experts are sent to travel about among
them and do what they can Tor them.
These experts are the agents through
whom Count Ealkenhayn brings his in
nuence to bear on aguculturistS OF the
poorer class. They learn TO know them
personally, talk matters over with them,
ana give friendly hints 10 those who are
unwilling 10 receive direct instruction.
They show them new ways Of doing
things; tell them Of the latest inventions
in machinery, and teach them how To
guard their cattle and crops from disease,
Above ali, they try to interest them in
improved methods OF cultivation. II
they come across specially Intelligent
man in any district, they Will help him 10
Improve his farm, 80 that ii may serve as
model 10 MS nelEAbOrs. Ii he mas not
the means 10 make the necessary sItera-
lions, they Will obtain grant Tor him
either direct from the Minister or through
some agricultural society. 1t is only In
rare cases, however, that they make sub
Nenuons In money: they prefer giving in
kind. They viii obtain for one farmer
some IaGor-saYlng machine at q reduced
rate; Tor another = COW o: better breed
tnau he can afford ID pay Tor: for third.
perhaps, free grant OF seeds. They
never give much, but they give wisely.
snu are always on the alert 10 help 10 tide
over temporary distress.
II Austrian farmers have inferior cattle.
the fault does nor lie with Count FaEEsn-
hayu, who does all that he cau-ar,Jreafs
perSuades, brides ana even threarsns-tr
induce them 10 keep good. He buvS
nerds OF prize cattle IN all parts OF Eurone.
ana these he exhibits, lends out and
makes presents OF sometimes If the
farmers in any diStrIc; seem anxious To
Improve their stock, lie viii present a
prize bull 10 any one OF them VINO viii
undertake. 10 keep II for Iour wears FOR
the benent OF his neighOorS, Al The end
OF that time the bull becomes the farm
er's private property. Some wears aro
lie purchased q large number of y ork-
shire boars, and sold them TO Austrian
farmers at half price. From time 10 time
he sends prize donkeys into the TyroI.