SWITZERLAND - CO-OPERATIOX AND ASSOCIATION 



The ofl&ce sent month by month to the International Institute of 

 Agriculture at Rome its customary reports on the condition of the prin- 

 cipal crops, of silkworm rearing, of foreign trade in cereals, and of beetroot 

 growing and sugar production, and on the provisional and final estimates 

 of the cereal and j)otato harvests, wine production, the tobacco harvest, etc. 



§ 3. Office of valuation. 



The amount of business entrusted during igi6 to the Office of Valua- 

 tion was so large that it was necessary to engage new experts. 

 Its activity, as determined by its rules, comprised : 



a) The drawing up of reports on investigations and valuations made 

 at the request of individuals in the case of the repurchase of inheritances, 

 successions, acquisitions of real estate, requests for credit and applications 

 for compensation for damage to crops. As in the previous year the largest 

 number of applications for valuations were made by individuals. 



b) Investigations and valuations for institutions of credit and the 

 State. 



c) Investigations and valuations in cases of expropriation. 



d) Co-operation in legal or official valuations. 



e) Contributions to scientific research in the matter of agricultural 

 taxation. 



The value of the real estate valued in 1916 was as follows : 



Real estate valued according to the income it pro- 

 duced .... 3,266,000 francs 

 » )) » » » its selling value. 1,762,000 » 

 )^ )' )) B )' its value for the 

 maintenance of a family 632,000 « 



Recourse was also had to the Office of Valuation for information of 

 ever}^ description. Besides its simple communications the office made 

 real studies of the most diverse questions, among them those inherent in 

 the law of succession among peasants, the purchase and sale of real estate, 

 the letting of real estate, due services and the land tax. 



§ 4. The office of information as to insurance against accidents 



and sickness. 



This office has had to suppl}^ information as to the foundation of sick- 

 ness funds and in one case to pronounce on projected by-laws which had 

 already been drawn up. The office has been asked for other information, 

 especially on the subject of insurance against risks of civil liability. 



