THE ASSOCIATION OP THE AGRICULTURISTS II 



Centre for Farmers' Contracts. — Hitherto one of the greatest obsta- 

 cles in the way of the investment and use of capital in agricultural indus- 

 tries has been the difficult}^ of acquiring and selling rural property in Spain. 

 A very 'capable agenc^^ was necessary to determine the accuracy of the 

 facts indicated by lists of offers. 



The intermediary agents responsible for the sale and letting of rural 

 properties merely supply the information given to them b}' the proprietors. 



The cost of such work to the seller is excessive when the transaction is 

 important. Many agriculturists, very variously situated, asked the asso- 

 ciation to form for them a special centre for contracts of purchase and sale, 

 which should render constantly available guarantees of the description of 

 properties to be sold, and of the circumstances attendant on sale. In Nov- 

 ember 1915 the association therefore founded an office for the purchase, 

 sale and letting of rural properties, on the following bases : 



a) A right to use the office will belong only to members, whether 

 individuals or societies, of the Association of the Agriculturists of Spain. 



b) The association will supply detailed notes as to properties for sale 

 or to let, with photographs and anj- other necessary papers, and will guar- 

 antee the accurac}' of data contained in the offer, on the responsibility 

 of its technical expert. 



c) The association keeps a register of offers and one of demands. 

 To make an entry in the former it is necessary : i) to belong to the associa- 

 tion, being either ersonally enrolled in one of its classes or the adherent 

 of a societ}' which is among its collective members ; 2) to pay the fee, 

 fixed at 100 pesetas, which covers the travelling and maintenance costs 

 of the expert who inspects properties, and the cost of obtaining photo- 

 graphs, verifying data, etc. ; 3) to apply to the association and facilitate 

 the work entailed by such verification. 



d) The association's technical expert guarantees by his signature 

 the accurac}' of the data supplied as to the quality of lands, the kind of 

 crops they bear, means of communication, buildings, live stock, imple- 

 ments and machines, etc., but does not guarantee the area unless he receive 

 plans which allow him to investigate it on the spot. Further he is not 

 responsible for the price a landowner may ask, this point being left entirely 

 to the seller's discretion. 



e) When once any transaction has been completed neither the seller 

 nor the bu^^er will be in any way liable to make any payment. 



/) Offers and demands will be advertised in the association's bulle- 

 tin, in order that all members may become aware of them. 



Technical- Agronomic and Legal Advice. — The association has placed 

 at the service of its members the offices of persons especially competent 

 in these two departments, a technical and a legal adviser, both of whom 

 are paid by itself. It is their duty to answer the questions of members 

 on economic, technical, legal and social points. 



lyCgal advice is given quite freely. Technical advice is of different 

 kinds, as follows : 



a) It is given quite freely to members. They benefit thus by con- 



