THE REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF AGRICUI,TURAIv CO-OPERATION 



persons and often oblige entire families to emigrate. The federation is doing 

 its utmost to bring a remedy here. In the last ten years, landed estates 

 have been cut up and divided among tenant farmers at Mossa, Fiumicello, 

 Sanpierdisonzo, Cassegliano and Aquileja. lu the two last of these communes 

 the federation was enabled, thanks to assistance from the I. and R. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, to facilitate the sale of land to more than 90 farmers, 

 thus assuring them a certain independence. In 1909, the federation pur- 

 chased a landed estate (entailed) at Scodavacca, which was in danger of 

 falling into the hands of speculators, in order to subdivide it and 

 transfer the holdings to peasants, with the assistance of the I. and 

 R. Department of Agriculttue and a Viennese Bank. The estate was 

 300 campi in area (i campo is about 3,600 sq. metres), and consisted of 

 fields and meadows and there were ii tenants' households on it. The 

 allotment gave the federation much trouble, but, in spite of all difficulties, 

 was brought to a successful conclusion. Thirteen holdings (land and build- 

 ings) of from I to 12 hectares each were sold to experienced farmers. 

 The federation itself has undertaken the administration of the manor 

 house and outhouses, as well as from two to three ha. of garden for a 

 period of ten years and during that time it will supervise the farmers and 

 give them assistance ; the portion of the estate above mentioned of which 

 the federation has reserved to itself the management will be utilised for 

 horticulture and poultry and rabbit improvement, so as to show the old 

 tenants, now become small landowners, the considerable yield to be ob- 

 tained from these agricultural industries. 



Thus, the federation has perfectly reahsed the first part of its programme. 

 The second part consists, as has been said, in the supervision to be exercised 

 over the peasant land holders in order to ensure the maintenance of their 

 holdings and protect them from losses. For this purpose, during the next 

 ten years it will place at the disposal of the peasants storehouses for grain, 

 ovens for desiccation of maize, cellars for the fermentation and preserv- 

 ation of wine, as well as the necessary implements and machinery. The 

 local Raiffeisen bank will make provision for the loans and savings 

 business ; a co-operative purchase and sale society will provide those con- 

 cerned with farm requisites, and will act as intermediary for the sale of 

 milk, fruit, vegetables etc. and all these undertakings will be supervised by 

 the federation. In winter, lectures will be arranged so that the peasants 

 may be given the knowledge they require in order to establish themselves in 

 their new position, by no means an easy matter for all, and derive the 

 greatest profit from it. 



Thus, not only has the federation contributed to a large extent towards 

 co-operation and home colonisation, but it has also given efficacious aid 

 in improving the material conditions of existence of the small farmers. 

 The agricultural co-operative societies are still the pivot of its action. The 

 Raiffeisen banks serve as savings banks for the peasants, accustom them 

 to a reasonable investment of their surplus funds, and ensure them against 

 the danger of being unable to fulfil their engagements at critical moments. 

 These banks grant loans on produce, if the peasant, on account of the un- 



