CO-OPERATION 137 



execute work concerning them all and requiring a comparatively 

 large force of muscle and limbs (such as surface draining, the 

 cleaning of ditches and so on), in common, carrying co-operation to 

 the point of bombarding the sky collectively in order to break up 

 gathering hail clouds, and of collectively fumigating their vineyards 

 to keep off the frost. Indian rayats combine to dig wells and make 

 embankments. In Belgium there are the warteringues. And in 

 Germany and Italy we see co-operation in labour well developed 

 and in large use. In Italy, more particularly, the institution of 

 combined labour is a widespread institution. From mere hand 

 labour the practice has, with distinct advantage, been carried to the 

 point of common owning of implements and machinery — from large 

 machines, such as threshers with steam engines, down to simple 

 stubbing tools, cake crushers, choppers and self binders. Such 

 co-operation disposes entirely of the objection so often urged against 

 small husbandry, namely, that it cannot avail itself of the help of 

 large labour-saving and therefore cost-economising machinery. It 

 does secure it ; it derives from it all the benefits which its use carries 

 with it ; and it thrives upon such use of it. Jack has become as good 

 as his master. And it is wonderful how easily and readily members 

 of such associations learn to accommodate themselves to one 

 another's needs. At the outset it was thought that all of them 

 would most certainly ask for the same implement at precisely the 

 same time, so that one man would get all the benefit and the others 

 would be disappointed. There is nothing of the sort. In some 

 few instances, indeed, small implements have had to be duplicated, 

 triplicated or multiplied beyond that. But in general, with a little 

 give and take, arrangements have proved remarkably easy. For 

 early season work members have indeed to be content with the use 

 of a drill or a threshing machine or a steam plough for a limited 

 period only — more to be allowed when the main push would be 

 over. But all this has settled down readily and amicably. Even 

 horses are kept in common and let out without difficulty to serve 

 the wants of different applicants in turns. And the system has 

 proved applicable to a great variety of articles in use, the number of 

 which keeps increasing as new implements are brought out, from 

 tractors and steam ploughs, disc harrows and so on, down to liquid 

 manure pumps, seed drills and subsoilers. And the organisation 

 of this service in truth costs so little money ! Where there is a 

 Raiffeisen credit society, providing money without issuing shares, 

 therefore without payment down, you can operate largely. There 

 are steam threshing machines with engines, tractors and the like, 



