THE STATE BANK OF INSURANCE 4T 



reason for this is that the meteorological conditions prevalent throughout 

 the ordinary seed time of 1914 made the ^-ear quite abnormal. Ver}'' abun- 

 dant atmospheric precipations placed extraordinar}' difficulties in the wa}^ 

 of agricultural work in several districts and entirely prevented it in others. 

 All this brought about a general disturbance of agricultural production in 

 its initial period, and prevented the hail department of the State Insurance 

 Bank from the full activity which would have characterized it had sowing 

 been effected abundant^ and rapidly. On the other hand 1915 was distin- 

 guished in Uruguaj' bj^ abundant agricultural production, especially of 

 corn, and in consequence the business of the hail department was steady 

 and prosperous. The data for 1915, as given in the table, may be taken 

 most nearly to represent this institution's normal course of business, 

 and thus it is possible to see the development accomplished. 



Other considerations also follow on an examination of this table. If 

 the amount of the premiums received be compared with that of the indem- 

 nities paid, it will be seen that vv^hen 30 per cent, has been deducted, as the 

 amount of costs of administration, there remains an appreciable balance 

 which hitherto has gone to swell the bank's precautionary fund. 



Table II shows the sums assigned to the reserve fund of the hail de- 

 partment of the State Insurance Bank, the progress of which fund best 

 shows the good working of the institution and the solidity of its business. 



Tabids II — Sums assigned to the Reserve Fund of the Hail Department. 



We end these brief notes on the activity of the Hail Department by 

 Table III, which shows how the business of 1913 was distributed among 

 the different kinds of crops insured : 



