Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-09-30
HOW THE FRENCH NATION
CARES FOR ITS FARMERS
HISTORICAL AGRICULT URM SOCIETIES, INSTITUTE AGRENEME,
THREE GREAT AGRICULTURE COLLEGES, BESIDES
MINOR SCHOOLS. RESULTS AMPLY JUSTIFY
THE SPLENDID WORK DONE.
parliamentary electoral district.

MS systematic organization OF ag-
|ricultural education is one of the
greatest works of the Third Republic.
1t has astonishing results. The va
lue of the annual crops in France
during the Is years that have elapsed
since this educational system was
introduced has increased by $500,
900. 600 francs $500, 600, 0OO). This
remarkable result is entirely due to
improved methods of cultivation re-
sulting from the educational advan-
tages now enjoyed.
So much for the official side of ag-
r'cultural instruction in France. The
nonoficial organization Of agricul-
ture in the Republic is in the hands
Of two great institutions known as
1.-THE Societe des Agriculteurs and the
Eociete Rationale announcement
de l'Agriculture.
The Societe des Agriculteurs de
France, which is the more important
and older of the two, has its head
quarters in Paris. 1t has a member
ship of 1880. It's president is the
Marquis de vogue. The annual mem
bership fee is 220 francs ($44) which
gives it a revenue Of $4,000 a year.
The society also has the disposal of
the income from a capital which has
been left 20 1t in the form Of inner
itances destined to be devoted to the
work Of the organization, as we'll as
other resources.
This society devotes itself entirely
to advancing the interests of French
agriculture, but is in no way a COM
mercial undertaking. 1t Is affiliated
with local societies throughout the
country of every kind and descrip-
tion-societies for the encourage
ment of horse or cattle breeding, bee
culture, wine growing, poultry rails
ing, corn growing, fruit raising, or
CARNATIONS for the development OF
dairy produce, and SO forth. These
provincial organizations number, on
the average, 8 to each department,
some departments possessing only 3
Tor 4, while others have Is or 20. Each
lof these societies devotes itself to
advancing that branch Of agriculture
to which it belongs. This is done
by organizing cattle shows, arranging
lectures, and publishing bulletins and
reports giving the latest informa-
ton on agricultural subjects.
The holding of cattle shows in
France is undertaken by the Govern
ment as far as concerns the two great
national shows which are held in
Paris every year-the fat-stock show
lin December and the summer show
in June-and the eight great shows
which are held in the provinces ev-
cry year. These eight shows are held
in different departments every year,
so that once in every ten years each
of the SO departments into which
France is divided is assured Of being
the Gene Of one Of the shows. AS this
period is too prolonged, however, and
interest in this section of agricul-
itural activity would be apt to droop,
the two great agricultural societies
themselves take in hand the organi-
Zation Of additional shows in various
parts Of the country. In addition to
these larger shows the local soci-
ties, of course, hold their W purely
loal exhibitions, which are natur-
ally of a less important nature.
The lecturers provided by the So
ciete des Agriculteurs are not mere
professional speakers, but are recruit
ed from among the most eminent
members OF the society. The local So
ciety to whose members the lectures
are delivered pays the travelling ex-
penses of the lecturer. while the
Societe gives the sum Of 20 franc
($4) as a fee for each lecture. Each
of the local societies throughout
France is represented in the mother
society by it's president, who usual
ly attends the national congress of
agriculture held each year under the
auspices of the society.
As by its charter the Societe des
Agriculteurs des France can not I'M
dertake commercial business. 1t has
founded alongside itself an institu-
ton known as the Union Centrale
des Syndicats, to which owe 5000
of the commercial syndicates or ag-
r%icultural trading associations, be-
long. These syndicates are organized
by communes, or marshes. or, In
cases where the communes are in
themselves too small. by cantons. or
oflcialgroupings of communes. They
deal on a cooperative and mutual
basis with every kind Of agriucltur-