No. 4.] RURAL CREDIT, ETC., IN EUROPE. 103 



erned by its ability to furnish enough members to secure the 

 advantages of purchasing in bulk. Central organizations, 

 representing all local societies in a province or State, are 

 organized to make the buying power still greater and thus 

 reduce costs still further. 



There are thi*ee principal types of co-operative dairies, — 

 those in which the cream is separated and butter made, but 

 the milk and buttermilk is returned to the producers ; those 

 which sell new milk or utilize the new milk for making but- 

 ter and cheese and use the by-products as food for pigs ; and 

 those known as cream depots which only separate the cream, 

 which is then sent to a central dairy or to the towns. A milk 

 supply from at least 300 to 400 cows must be guaranteed be- 

 fore definite steps toward organizing a society are taken. 

 Members must deliver to the central station all milk not 

 needed for use on the farm or in the home. Payment is 

 usually based on the fat content. Central organizations 

 have been formed to some extent. 



The co-operative grain-selling societies aim to secure for 

 the producer improved facilities for drying, cleaning and 

 grading seeds; to, regulate prices by reservation of supply; 

 to enable the farmers to secure credit with corn in the ware- 

 house as security; to lessen or eliminate payments to mid- 

 dlemen ; and to reduce transportation charges. 



The cattle-selling associations aim at the elimination of 

 superfluous charges in getting cattle to the market; but 

 although attempts have been made in Germany to establish 

 co-operative slaughterhouses similar to those in Denmark 

 they have as yet been unsuccessful. The majority of the 

 societies sell on commission, and all animals are insured 

 against damage in transit and against partial or total loss 

 at the hands of the inspectors. Many societies maintain 

 their own system of insurance. 



The co-operative egg-selling societies, in addition to the 

 grading and handling of eggs, seek to promote the poultry 

 industry by advising their members as to breeding and feed- 

 ing, turning their attention to better methods of housing, and 

 selling them desirable birds at very low prices. 



