PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE. 7

ized country, is by agricultural associations. They afford farmers the means of suggesting improvements, as well as a channel for communicating to each other the results of their observations and experiments, and of securing the general benefits of their respective knowledge. The first Russian association of this kind, the Imperial Independent Society of Rural Economy, at St. Petersburg, was insti- tuted under the auspices of the Empress Catherine II., in 1765, at a period when there were not half a dozen societies of this description in all Europe. At first, it received from the Empress 6, 000 rubles (§4, 500) for the erection of a building. Subsequently, Alexander I. granted 5,000 rubles(83, 750) per annum to defray the necessary ex- penses. In 1826, the Emperor Nicholas increased this sum to 15,000 rubles(§11, 250.) The next year, he granted to the society an annual contribution from the general imposts or taxes of the country for the diffusion of vaccination. In 1833, there was also bestowed an annual donation of 20,000 rubles(§15, 000) for agricultural education. Besides these sums, he ordered an annual payment of 7,000 rubles (§5, 250) instead of lands which had previously been endowed to the society. Another feature worthy of note is, an annual appointment, made on the recommendation of this association, of a suitable agent to travel in foreign countries five months each year, to report on the condition and progress of agriculture and manufactures, who receives his instructions from the council of the society, and enjoys certain privileges granted by the government during the mission.

Under the reign of Alexander I., the Agricultural Society of Livo- nia was founded, in 1805, and that of Moscow, in 1818. Since that period, several others have been formed in the Baltic provinces, in the south of Russia, as well as in some of the central governments. At present, the number of societies in Russia amounts to about twenty, among which may be particularized the Agronomic Society of Moscow, the Central Society of Sheep-Farming,(also at Moscow,) and the Agronomic Society of South Russia, at Odessa.

In 1836, the Technological Institute of St. Petersburg was estab- lished, containing a cabinet of models of agricultural implements and machines, duplicates of which are transmitted to the Chambers of Finance of every government for the purpose of forming collections. The manufacturers of agricultural machinery at Moscôw have also received pecuniary subsidies to enable them to extend their establish- ments. These measures, it is stated, exert a favorable influence on agricultural progress.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN PRUSSIA.

The administration of the entire domain of agriculture in Prussia is conducted by a Department of Agriculture, under the direction of a Minister, whose jurisdiction embraces the government of the authori- ties charged with the execution of the laws established for effecting an immunity both from tenant-rights and such rents and tithes as are an obstacle to a proper and advantageous use of real estate; the