790 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Norwegian Parliament in 1903 providing for long-time loans to laborers or 

 farmers without means for the purpose of purchasing land and erecting build- 

 ings, this article describes the Norwegian Bank for Laborers' Holdings and 

 Dwellings and gives an outline of the various kinds of loans granted, together 

 with data as to results attained. 



The bank is capitalized out of state funds, the capitalization amounting at 

 present to 10,000.000 crowns ($2,680,000). It obtains funds needed for loans 

 by the issue of bonds guarantied by the State. Loans for the purchase of small 

 farms are granted at 3.5 per cent interest at most, either directly to persons 

 without means on the security of the commune they inhabit, or to rural com- 

 munes for the purchase and preparation of laud for subdivision into allot- 

 ments for laborers. Loans for the purpose of erecting buildings are made 

 upon similar terms, except that a maximum of 4 per cent interest is allowed. 

 Kepayment of loans on land begins in the sixth year and on buildings in the 

 third year. 



Loans may be granted up to nine-tenths the value of the land purchased, 

 and are to the borrower, who gives in exchange a mortgage bond. The part 

 intended for buildings is paid in installments as the work progresses. 



Loans for laborers' holdings since 1903 number 11,579, amounting to 16.09S,- 

 430 crowns, and the loans for dwellings number 8,142, amounting to 11,161.057 

 crowns. Of the 3.053 loans granted in the year 1911-12, 1.013 were made to 

 agricultural and industrial workmen on daily pay, the remainder being to 

 artisans, servants, fishermen, schoolmasters, etc. 



Agricultural cooperation for farm, insurance, B. B. Hake (V. S. Depi. Agr., 

 Office Expt. Stas. Bui. 256, pp. 51-55). — In this address the author discusses the 

 economic necessity for farm insurance, outlines different forms of insurance 

 and points out their method of operation; shows what has been accomplished 

 in various sections by cooperative insurance ; and outlines a plan by which such 

 a .system may be successfully operated in the United States. Among the advan- 

 tages of cooperative farm insurance pointed out are the prevention of a serious 

 pecuniary loss to a farmer or few farmers by distributing it among many ; the 

 tendency to keep the money paid for insurance in the rural districts ; cheaper 

 rates than those usually found in other systems of insurance; and the stimulus 

 it gives to agi'icultural credit. 



Among the essentials mentioned for a successful cooperative association for 

 farm insurance are the following: (1) No salaried officers unless it be the sec- 

 retary, officers being paid by the day or for the amount of services rendered; 

 (2) no dividends; (3) a square deal for each member; and (4) the field of 

 operation should usually be confined to a township or county. 



Hail insurance, V. Vekmorel {Prog. Agr. et Vit. {Ed. VEst-Centre), 3/f 

 {1913), Nos. 35, pp. 277-280; 36, pp. 308-315).— This article presents the history 

 and progress of hail insurance in France since 1882. Mutual insurance by local 

 organizations confederated into regional organizations is reported to have been 

 very successful. The operations of such associations are described at length. 

 The establishment of a national insurance organization to work in cooperation 

 with the regional organizations and to be financed by the national government 

 is suggested. 



[Market conditions in Alaska], J. W. Neal {Alaska Stas. Rpt. 1912, p. 48). — 

 It is pointed out in this report that the market for agricultural products in 

 Alaska is very limited and should be thoroughly investigated before prospective 

 settlers or newcomers engage in farming in the interior. " With the lack of 

 necessary transportation facilities, and the sparsely settled communities in this 

 country-, the farmer must depend upon his own locality to consume his products, 

 and it is easy for the supply to exceed the demand." It is estimated that the 



