go BELGIUM 



to some federation whose operations may em- 

 brace a canton, a province, or the entire country. 

 The oldest of the federations is the Boerenbond ; 

 the others include the Federation Agricole du 

 Hainaut, the Federation Agricole de la Province 

 de Liege, the Ligue Agricole Luxembourgeoise, 

 etc. 



The primary object of the local societies is the 

 purchase in common of agricultural necessaries, 

 this being effected through central organizations, 

 some of which are represented by limited liability 

 companies formed by the agriculturists as an 

 adjunct to their ordinary associations. Of 

 purchase societies the number in 1901 was 780, 

 with a membership of 49,000, and the purchases 

 amounted to a total of 14,000,000 francs. Some 

 of the associations procure costly agricultural 

 machinery, which they let out on hire to their 

 members or others, the value of machinery thus 

 held in 1901 being 98,000 francs. The equip- 

 ment of co-operative dairies is undertaken in 

 certain instances, and the federations operating 

 in the dairy districts have organized a complete 

 system of inspection as to the working and 

 management of the establishments belonging to 

 their members. 



The raising of funds for the carrying on of 

 agricultural operations, either by co-operative 



