BEI<GIUM - CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



directing committee have laboriousl}^ pursued. No consideration, including 

 regard for hygiene, has failed to influence the association's conduct and 

 to contribute to the efforts to reconstruct destroyed villages and farms. 



" We have made a point "says the report, " of rendering yet another 

 service to the country people who were obliged to reconstruct their houses 

 or farms. We wished to make them understand that in building it is easy 

 for them to observe the rules of comfort and primary notions of hygiene 

 without any consequent increase of expense. There are already in the 

 country too many insanitary dwelling and too many farms constructed in 

 defiance of the rules of good sense. 



" A commission was nominated and it prepared in the two languages, 

 French and Flemish, a small pamphlet, which was especially the work of 

 Messrs. J. Giele and G. Van den Abeele and is called Construction de I' habi- 

 tation rurale et de ses dependances {Construction of a Rural Dwelling and its 

 Dependencies). 



" This is a collection, as concise as possible, of explanations and prac- 

 tical advice on the choice and use of materials, dimensions, the divStribution 

 of space, airing and ventilation, the means of obtaining good drinking water, 

 of guarding against damp, etc. The pamphlet is written very simply so as 

 to be within the comprehension of all. 



" The vSpecial Commission for the Reconstruction of Farms, Rural 

 Dwellings and Villages, created within the National Agricultural Section, 

 wished to collaborate with us. We acceded very willingl}^ to such request 

 and in January the pamphlet was published under the auspices of this com- 

 mission and of the Boerenbond. 



" A copy was sent to each of our gilds and others were distributed 

 by the care of the special commission. 



" This was a first and an interesting attempt at rebuilding on our coun- 

 trysides. The special commission and its provincial sections continued to 

 study the problem actively. May their efforts result in an embellishment 

 of our villages and in procuring truly improved dwellings for our husband- 

 men ! ". 



So much as to the league's general activity. As regards the particu- 

 lar activity of each of the organisms within its framework, this has been no 

 less fruitful; and we wish we could mention aU that has been accomplished 

 by the parochial gilds, the farmwives' circles, the federations of horticul- 

 turists, the counter for sale and purchase, the inspectorate of milk, the cen- 

 tral credit fund and the insurance section. But necessarily our remarks 

 must be limited and we will only give some figures. 



We will take first the Farmwives' League. This was not only increased 

 in 1915 by four new circles, which grouped altogether 463 members, but 

 it has constantly kept in touch with the bodies affiliated to it, has multi- 

 plied lectures and local meetings, and has been prodigal of practical advice 

 and instruction to its members, thus stimulating the zeal of all and giving 

 a direction to their activit3^ 



" The problem of feeding the people, which has so great a practical 

 interest for women, has preoccupied the Farmwives' I^eague to the highest 



