CHAPTER XI 

 SWITZERLAND 



THERE are some points in the story of 

 agricultural organization in Switzerland 

 which render that country deserving of attention 

 both as an example and a warning. 



A considerable expansion in the industries of 

 Switzerland between 1870 and 1880 led to a 

 steady flow of population from the country 

 districts to the towns, the proportions of the 

 numbers employed in agricultural and industrial 

 pursuits respectively undergoing great changes 

 in some of the leading cantons. The farmers 

 found that under these circumstances their 

 interests were being seriously prejudiced by the 

 shortage of labour ; but with the lesser profits 

 they were making, because of the rapidly develop- 

 ing competition of other and newer countries, 

 they could not afford to pay their workers the 

 same rates of wages as the manufacturers in 

 the towns were able to give. The conclusion 

 arrived at, therefore, was that the agriculturists of 



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