RURAL CO-OPERATIVE BAKEHOUSES 



23 



Besides these bakehouses properly so called, there are 622 co-operative 

 societies reported as selling both bread and other articles. Of these 622 so- 

 cieties, 608 communicated both the number of their members (282,247) 

 and the amount derived from their sales, whether of bread or other articles 

 (128,820,500 frs.). 



The prefect of Ardennes was able to obtain most interesting information 

 with regard to the amount derived exclusively from the sale of bread by 

 a certain number of societies in his department engaged at the same time 

 in the sale of bread and that of other articles. In 35 societies the total 

 turnover was 4,166,000 frs. and the amount derived fiom the sale of bread 

 alone 1,573,000 frs. The enquiry did not obtain similar information in 

 the case of the other departments. 



It is to be observed further that the information obtained did not 

 always show which of these societies, whether co-operative bakehouses 

 or societies seUing both bread and other articles, made their bread them- 

 selves. Only the prefect of Ardennes could obtain this information ; the 

 21 bakehouses in his department made their own bread, as did also 31 

 out of the 32 societies reporting to the enquiry, which were engaged at 

 the same time in the sale of bread and of other articles. It is to be pre- 

 sumed that many societies do so : yet there are some which only sell bread 

 obtained from a baker. 



lyCt us finally point out that in the case of some bakehouses in rural 

 communes it is not easy to estimate the turnover, as these societies supply 

 members with bread in exchange for wheat. The prefects reported 

 35 societies of this character (Basses- Alpes, i ; Bouches-du-Rhone, 4 ; Cha- 

 arente, 12 ; Charente-Inferieure, 8 ; Gironde, 2 ; Meuse, i ; Oise, 2 ; Basses- 

 Pyrenees, I ; Hautes-Pyrenees, i ; Deux-Sevres, i ; Var, 2). 



