22 BULLETIN" 840, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



An annual summary is derived from the four quarterly summaries 

 in a manner corresponding to that in which a quarterly summary is 

 derived from the monthly summaries. The annual summary figures 

 may be entered in ink of the same color as used for the quarterly 

 figures, but attention should be called to them by a special ruled line 

 above the horizontal space in which they occur, with a double ruled 

 line below the space. 



CONCLUSION. 



Over 1,500 farmers' mutual fire insurance companies, or more than 

 three-fourths of the total number of such organizations, are rela- 

 tively small and local concerns. In these local companies the sec- 

 retaries, who also act as general managers, almost invariably keep 

 the records of their respective companies without the aid of trained 

 bookkeepers or accountants. Where one man is, at the same time, 

 secretary, general manager, and bookkeeper, the emphasis in his 

 selection is very properly placed upon character, good reputation, 

 and practical knowledge of farm risks, rather than upon technical 

 knowledge of bookkeeping. It is not surprising, therefore, that the 

 forms and plans for keeping records now in use by these companies 

 are frequently deficient. In some cases they fail to furnish the in- 

 formation desired either by the directors of the company or by the 

 State insurance departments, while in other cases they involve much 

 duplication of work and of data without any corresponding benefit. 

 A special need of a large percentage of these companies, therefore, 

 is a system of records which furnishes the necessary information and 

 is at the same time as simple and nontechnical as the nature of the 

 business permits. 



The sj^stem here suggested, while adaptable to all assessment mu- 

 tuals, has been prepared with a special view to meeting the needs of 

 the numerous local farmers' mutual fire insurance companies. It is 

 believed to embody the methods of keeping records that experience 

 has shown to be most practicable in making available necessary 

 information without imposing needless work or requiring special 

 technical training. 



For the convenience of those interested in the system of records 

 recommended and described in the preceding pages., the Department 

 of Agriculture, through the Office of Farm Management, will sup- 

 ply, free of charge, printer's copy of the various forms here illus- 

 trated. In so far as its facilities permit, the Office of Farm Manage- 

 ment will also render other assistance, when requested, in connection 

 with the adoption and installation of the system suggested in this 

 bulletin. 



