190 FINLAND 



Then followed, in the autumn of 1899, the 

 definite formation of a Society for Promoting 

 the Application of Co-operation to Agriculture 

 in Finland. Of this society, known as "Pellervo," 

 Dr. Hannes Gebhard was chosen as president. 

 It aimed at becoming a central organization 

 which would encourage the formation of local 

 bodies ; publish literature in the special interests 

 of the peasants ; promote the starting of co- 

 operative dairies, rural credit banks, purchase 

 societies, etc. ; provide model rules and regula- 

 tions for such bodies ; send out lecturers, in- 

 structors, and organizers all over Finland ; inquire 

 into the best means to be adopted for increasing 

 the sale of Finnish dairy products abroad ; and 

 otherwise seek to develop the agricultural in- 

 terests of the country. These were the lines on 

 which operations were begun, the Government 

 showing its sympathy with the movement by 

 making a grant-in-aid of £800 a year for a 

 period of five years. 



At the time the Pellervo was started there 

 were already in existence in Finland seventy- 

 four non-co-operative agricultural organizations 

 corresponding to the "Syndicats Agricoles" in 

 France, or the " Bauernvereine " in Germany. 

 Within the first nine months of the formation 

 of the Pellervo no fewer that 150 more of 



