70 FRANCE 



being Syndicats de Hannetonage, organized in 

 various departments to wage war against the 

 May-beetle ; associations to take precautionary 

 measures against phylloxera ; and even, at one 

 time, associations for the protection of vines 

 from frost in the early spring. The last- 

 named result w r as to be obtained by lighting in 

 the vineyards bonfires in which were burned 

 substances that produced dense smoke, the pre- 

 sence of which, especially on a still night, should 

 serve the same purpose as clouds in preventing 

 the radiation of heat from the ground. Whether 

 because the desired degree of success was not 

 attained, or because the expense was too great, 

 only a few of these particular associations have 

 survived ; but the fact of their being started at 

 all shows the readiness of the people to co-operate 

 for the promotion of mutual interests. 



Then, in order to still further reduce expenses, 

 so that farmers would be better able to meet the 

 falling prices, various associations started the 

 idea of grouping their members to allow of 

 better terms being made with the fire insurance 

 companies. Such grouping meant for the com- 

 panies not only, as it were, " wholesale lots " of 

 policy-holders of an especially desirable type, but 

 the incurring of less cost in the collection of 

 premiums ; and where the associations could deal 



