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 Vi 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 Ians, 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 lan of Sweden. As Kalmar and Âlvsborg Làns 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 185o, 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
in such a way that one-eight of all payments received within the whole of Sweden
were shared between the Societies in proportion to the population of their respective
districts. The Riksdag of 1913 fixed the amount of compensation to be paid
to the Agricultural Societies instead of the receipts, which are now paid to the
Public; .Treasury, a t,2 100 000 kr. annually. The Riksdag of 1914 resolved that
this amount should be divided between the Agricultural Societies during the years.
1915—19, in such a way that a fixed sum of 10 000 kr. should be given to
each Society and that, of the remainder of the grant, one half is to be awarded
in proportion to the-number of the population engaged in agriculture and fishing
within the districts of the respective Societies. The other half of the said
remainder is to be divided in proportion to the other part of the population
in such districts, this with the reservation, however, that if, in consequence o f
the above division being carried out in accordance with these principles, any
Agricultural Society should receive less than 35 000 kr., the difference shall
first, be.giv.en to the Society in question, and the remainder of J h e grant shall be
divided, as mentioned above, among the other Societies. — From the year 1920
inclusive- this plan will be so altered, that the amount which is to be divided
according to population is to be allotted as follows: three-fifths shall be given
in proportion to the number o f persons engaged in agriculture and fisheries,
and two-fifths in proportion to the rest of the population.
In consequence of the large State grant received by the Agricultural Societies
in the form of spirit-sale revenue, they were able to extend their field of activity
very extensively and- powerfully to support agriculture. For a long succession
T able 31. Revenue and Expenditure of the Agricultural Societies.
Annually Annually Annually Annually Annually Annually Year
Revenue.
1882—1885 1886—18U0 1891—1895 1896—1900 1901—1905 1906—1910 1912
MembersMp-fees . . . 13 654 15139 18 274 21741 27527 36 808 Interests, rents . . . . 45 377 132 466 130 247 143 466 181849 240 006 306 264 333 749
Share of spirit-sale rev. 804 386 750170 900 352 1148 013 1512167 1 786 389 2 382 3061 State grantsj . . . . . 86 065 106 819 192164 312 970 474 206 676 581 946 724 County Council grants 53 012 67 750 83510 129 738 228 499 283 531 299 436;
Other sources of income 98 281 110312 94311 89 962 36 824 90 532 169 102!
Total 1187 864 1180437 1432 077 1884 273 2519 229 3180105 4 176 694
Expenditure.
Farming in general . . 266 687 255 666 309 430 425 129 598 735 836 724 1118 383! Horse-breeding . . . . 110 079 70 771 111 412 174533 275 190 335 417 393 101
Cattle-breeding and dairy
in d u stry .................... 103 381 139 119 264168 336 967 402 474 520 720 621 543 Other Live stock-breeding 4 526 2 798 7 655 11 296 21 266 37 516 71 716. Veterinary service. . . 47 055 52 640 60 394 75 390 108440 133 758 119 914 Gardening.................... 59287 48 366 48 587 65 222 87 903 100 078 114 880 F orestry ; gamekeeping 76162 73 767 83 281 116 935 144 456 68 647 69 706 j Fisheries . . . . 43 544 30 006 33 582 47 872 73 271 96 978 118368 Domestic sloyd . . . . 127337 107 259 106 269 130153 178 941 197 523 209 851 : Meetings and exhibitions 109 519 68 036 62 393 80 516 92 285 88 328 101 457 : Administration . . . . 142 802 139170 151410 178 834 243 958 316 164 425 489 Expenses involved by
loaps for the “own
homo” movement .
Other expenses . . .
— _ >122182 21166 36 310
79 027 83 950 100 087 149 062 183 666 178 627 141 934
Total |l 109 406 1071548 1 338 668|l 791909 2 432 767| 2931 640 3 542 652
1 The figures are for 1905.