AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS IN BELGIUM. 13 



It is the purpose of the Herzele local society to extend this dairy 

 system throughout the whole district. If the annual profit per cow- 

 were only 60 francs ($12), it would meau 160,000 francs ($32,000) profit 

 for the dairy due to the work of the society. 



The Borsbeke dairy has an electric plant which furnishes electricity 

 for lighting the public streets and houses and for power for small farms. 

 It is also used for lighting the railroad station, churches, factories, etc. 

 It is required that consumers subscribe for one share of stock for each 

 16-candlepower lamp desired. Since the consumers are shareholders 

 as well, it is to their interest to conduct the business on the most 

 economical principles. The extension of the cooperative plan outside 

 the dairy has yielded returns sufficient to pay half the expenses of 

 running the machinery of the dairy. This is, so far as known, the first 

 instance of the application of the cooperative principle in municipal 

 service. The example could be followed in other places and extended 

 to include the water supply. 



Plans are being made for a cooperative distillery. This will be 

 located near the dairy, so that it can utilize the power from the dairy. 

 The distillery will utilize the agricultural products and, at the same 

 time, the distillery waste will be useful as a cattle food. 



The members of the Herzele society have also organized a syndicate 

 for breeding cattle, which is the first organization of its kind on a really 

 scientific basis. Its by-laws provide that the cows be examined and 

 classified by a permanent commission. The milk of each cow is exam- 

 ined every 3 months as to its quality and quantity. Premiums are 

 given for the most improved cattle. In the sale of such cattle members 

 are first given an opportunity of purchase. After each examination 

 of the herds a placard showing the results is posted in the dairy for 

 the information of the members. Owners of cattle learn to recognize 

 the defects which they should avoid in cattle breeding. The points on 

 which the cows are judged and their relative importance are as 

 follows : 



Scale of points in judging coirs. 



Character of the cow 100 



General excellence 100 



Milk yield 60 



Butter yield of milk 60 



Hygiene of the stable 40 



Feeding 40 



400 



Since the organization of this syndicate the cattle at Borsbeke have 

 shown great improvement, the increased value of milk and butter 

 amounting to about 5 francs per head annually. The local society 

 intends to extend this work throughout the district. 



Cooperative purchase of goods. — To obtain the greatest advantages in 

 the cooperative purchase of goods it is necessary to purchase first-class 

 3012— No. 1 2 



