1904.] CO-QPERATIVE GRANARIES IN GERMANY. 



477 



is not always the case in Prussia, and the lack of success obtained 

 by some of the granaries in that country was attributed to the 

 limitation of the business to members only. The warehouses 

 may purchase grain at a fixed price and sell it at their own risk, 

 or they may act merely as agents for the sale. The charge for 

 cleaning, based on the weight of dressed corn, or sometimes on 

 the time occupied, varies from rather over ^d. to 3^d. per cwt. 

 With regard to the financial result, 57 of them were reported as 

 showing a profit and eight a loss, while a number were stated 

 to be worked without either profit or loss. 



The sales through the warehouses are stated to have resulted 

 nearly everywhere in higher prices being obtained than in the 

 -open market. The difference in 1901-2 amounted to as much 

 as is. per cwt., and in 1902-3 very frequently to 6d. per cwt. 

 In the latter year, out of 70 warehouses, 61 reported that they 

 obtained higher prices through co-operative sale, while in the 

 case of the remaining nine the prices were about the same. 

 Moreover, in consequence of the competition, the dealers were 

 compelled to adjust their prices, so that the agriculturists of the 

 district all participated in the benefit. The cleaning of the 

 grain in the warehouses contributed materially to the favour- 

 able results obtained. At the same time, there are complaints 

 of a lack of a proper sense of co-operation, which leads some 

 farmers to send to the warehouses only inferior grain which 

 they are unable to dispose of elsewhere. 



Government assistance in the construction of granaries is only 

 afforded when it is considered that they are likely to meet an 

 -actual need, and the supporters of the enterprise have to provide 

 a guarantee, and submit plans, &c, to the Granary Commission 

 of the Bavarian Council of Agriculture. 



The construction of these co-operative granaries close to the 

 railways has been encouraged by the Government by the free 

 grant of building land and by affording facilities for the con- 

 struction of railway sidings. By a decree of July 23rd, 1898, 

 where alterations become necessary at railway stations to meet 

 the requirements of co-operative granaries, the expenses of such 

 alterations are to be borne by the State railways up to a limit 

 of ^500 at each place. The co-operative society by whom the 

 granary is built have to construct the necessary roads or means 



