64 BOTANY 



well bred farm animals, agricultural machinery, and 

 insecticides. This not only resulted in economy from 

 wholesale buying and shipping, but had a beneficial 

 educational effect in the introduction of improved seed, 

 better cattle, tools, and methods. Later, attention 

 was directed to conditions of marketing, and many 

 syndicates collected and graded the crops of their mem- 

 bers, marketing them to much greater advantage and 

 gaining the further advantage of low freight charges 

 upon car-load shipments. 



The syndicates have proved great social factors in 

 bringing together, upon an entirely equal footing, pro- 

 prietor, tenant, and laborer, under the motto "All for 

 each, and each for all." In 1887 there were 214 syndi- 

 cates; in 1805 the number was 1188, including 400,000 

 adherents; and at the present time there are more than 

 6000 organizations, including nearly 1,000,000 farmers. 



Another feature of agriculture in France is the farm 

 loan system, which created a system of credit for farmers 

 somewhat different from commercial credit. Mutual 

 farm loan companies have been established by members of 

 the farmers' syndicates. These loan companies were made 

 possible by advances from the State, through the Bank of 

 France. In 1910 there existed 98 central companies and 

 3000 local companies, comprising 152,000 members; and 

 the plan has proved to be extremely successful. 



Before 1898 no special encouragement was given to 

 agriculture by mutual insurance societies; then laws 

 were passed authorizing insurance societies to benefit 

 by the law in reference to rural syndicates, and in 1912 

 there were 13,000 local mutual organizations insuring 

 against loss by death of cattle or by fire. A series of 

 guarantees is provided, extending from the local societies, 

 through central companies, to "The Central Trust of 

 the Syndicate of Farmers of France." 



