Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. Rural Husbandry. Introd. by H. Juhlin Dannfelt - 4. Public and Private Institutions for the Advancement of Agriculture. Introd. by W. Flach - Loans and Grants for Cultivation. By G. Sederholm - Provincial Agricultural Societies. By V. Heyman
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1-2-2 iii. rural husbandry.
From the year 1914 inclusive, the Riksdag has granted 200 000 kronor
annually to the Subsoil-draining loan fund, for the purpose of advances to be made
through the Agricultural Societies to the owners or cultivators of farms not
exceeding 50 hectares in area. Loans are granted to an amount not exceeding
70 % of the estimated expense of the work, bear interest at 4 % per annum
and are amortized in 10 years by the payment of 1jl of the loan-sum during
the last seven years of the amortizing period.
Provincial Agricultural Societies.
The first Provincial Agricultural Society in the present kingdom of Sweden was
founded in the island of Gottland in the year 1800, but, previous to that date, the
Finnish Society had been formed in 1797. Between 1803—12, Agricultural
Societies were established in seven other läns, and after the foundation of the
Academy of Agriculture in the year last-mentioned, and after the Societies had
received a more official character by their statutes being confirmed by the
Government, no long time elapsed before Agricultural Societies were in operation
in almost every län of Sweden. As Kalmar and Älvsborg Läns have two each,
the total number of such Societies is, at present, 26.
In accordance with the renewed general principles for the organization of the
Agricultural Societies of the kingdom which were accepted by the Government
in 1910, the object of the said Societies is the promotion of agriculture and its
dependent industries, and also of the fisheries. The Societies have the right of
electing their members themselves, to any number they may choose, as well as
their chairmen and vice-chairmen. A special section of each Society, consisting
of the chairman and vice-chairman, together with not less than five members,
and called the managing committee, shall be entrusted with the management of
the finances of the association; shall prepare all the current business before it is
placed before the Society for decision; shall supply the authorities with the
information they may ask for; and shall carry into effect the decisions of the
Society. A yearly report shall be sent in to the Board of Agriculture respecting
the condition of agriculture and its dependent industries, and respecting the
condition of the fisheries, together with the changes which have taken place in
these industries during the preceding year. With the exception of some few
additional regulations, framed by the Government, the Societies are entitled to
control and to draw up the statutes of their organization themselves — the
statutes, however, must be submitted to the inspection and for the approval of
the Government.
During the last few years, a number of the Agricultural Societies have
introduced a system of delegateship, the delegates being entitled to act in the name
of the Societies. As the number of members in most of the Societies has
increased very largely, the introduction of such a system as the one mentioned is
a necessity that can hardly be avoided, if the risks attendant on the decisions
reached by irresponsible, accidental majorities are to be avoided.
The Agricultural Societies, which have greatly promoted the interests of
agriculture and its dependent industries, had, at first, no other source of income
than the fees received from the members. Very soon, however, the State began
to assist certain branches of agricultural industry by means of grants and loans,
with or without the obligation of repayment. The changes in the legislation
respecting spirits, effected in 1855, provided the Societies with a liberal income,
as, until the year 1885, they were granted one-fifth, and, after that date,
one-tenth, of the resources obtained in their respective districts from the sale of
spirits. In consequence of a regulation dated 1905, these resources were divided
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