222 LUXEMBURG 



House of Representations passed a law author- 

 izing the formation of agricultural syndicates, 

 the immediate purpose of which was to be the 

 carrying out of works for the improvement of 

 the soil. These were followed, later on, by the 

 formation of many other syndicates on the 

 general model of those established in France. 

 One of the primary objects sought by this newer 

 type of organization was the collective purchase 

 of agricultural necessaries, to which end the 

 members of the syndicates held annual meetings, 

 where they announced the quantities of chemical 

 manures, seeds, etc., they would require during 

 the year. The administration then grouped the 

 orders, bargained with the manufacturers for the 

 entire quantity, and had it sent to some con- 

 venient centre in waggon-load lots. 



Then, also, the associations held periodical 

 conferences at which addresses were given by 

 experts in agricultural science, gatherings of 

 this kind being found to have an important 

 educational influence on the cultivators of the 

 soil who form the bulk of the little community. 

 In 1894 the first co-operative dairy in Luxem- 

 burg was formed. To-day there is a consider- 

 able number of these organizations in the Grand 

 Duchy. They have been grouped into a general 

 federation, the Council of which supervises not 



