CHAPTER VII 

 ITALY 



THE conditions which have brought about 

 the great revival now taking place in 

 Italian agriculture — a revival that has already- 

 produced remarkable results, and promises still 

 more important developments in the next 

 generation — are not in themselves all of native 

 growth. What has been well described as the 

 cellule mere of the whole movement, the 

 organization, namely, of an effective system of 

 agricultural credit, was directly inspired by 

 Germany. The formation of purchase associa- 

 tions was imitated from the example set by 

 France. The establishment of co-operative 

 dairies on present lines was the outcome, more 

 or less, of what had been done by Denmark. 

 The activity of the Roman Catholic clergy in 

 Italy in promoting the material interests of 

 cultivators of the soil reminds one of what is 

 being done in this direction in Belgium. 



Hut although Italy may have borrowed ideas 



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