18 PKOGKESS IN OTHEK COUNTKIES 



enterprise which characterised German industries of 

 this period. 



The machinery for agricultural development is 

 supplied by co-operation, education, and by efficient 

 arrangements for the supply of credit to farmers. 



Credit. — The chief agencies for the supply of credit 

 are the Land Mortgage Credit Associations which 

 lend to the larger farmers, and the Local Savings 

 Banks which lend to the small ones. These organ- 

 isations make careful inquiries as to the skill and 

 honesty of a farmer before they advance a loan, and 

 unless a farmer has a good reputation in these 

 matters, he receives but little credit. In this way 

 a continuous process of selection is in operation under 

 which the fittest men amongst the agriculturists 

 survive. 



Co-operation. — The chief activities of agricultural 

 co-operation are conducted by the Societies for the 

 supply of concentrated manures and feeding stuffs, 

 co-operative creameries, implement Societies and 

 potato-drying Societies. Their work is very extensive 

 and their value to the farmer great ; but it is not 

 proposed to go into any details regarding the well- 

 known facts of the situation. 



Education. — Efficient agricultural education is 

 given at the colleges, and many of the larger land- 

 owners receive such an education, while the other 

 pupils readily find posts as estate managers or in the 

 Agricultural Department. Five universities and three 

 technical colleges in Prussia alone receive government 



