i;2 Co-operation amongst French Farmers. 



periodically inspects the breeding- animals to see that they 

 are well kept, and that the young animals are properly 

 reared. By such means the value of the herd is materially 

 increased, and the fact that an animal is entered on the 

 register of the society at once enhances its selling value. 



While co-operative societies of a more or less similar type 

 exist in France, a system more in favour among the French 

 associations appears to be the purchase of stallions and bulls 

 of good quality, which are put up to auction among- the 

 members. The use of these animals for service is aUo 

 generally either limited to the members of the society, or 

 else only available to outsiders upon payment of a higher fee. 



Numerous syndicates have been formed in France to 

 secure for their members the advantage of cheap fodder, 

 etc., by obtaining large quantities at wholesale prices. These 

 associations were especially useful during 1893, when forage 

 was scarce in France ; in fact the drought in that year 

 appears to have given a considerable impetus to the formation 

 of this class of co-operative bodies. In that year the pur- 

 chases of fodder, straw, bran, grain, maize, cake, agricultural 

 salt, peat for litter, etc., by several of these associations 

 amounted to many thousands of pounds. 



A curious instance of associations for the common owner- 

 ship of a herd is recorded from Castellar, near the Italian 

 frontier. The care of the collective herd (which consists o^ 

 draft oxen, she-asses, and some milch-cows) devolves upon 

 each of the members in turn for one week, he during that 

 time enjoying the services and produce of the herd. The 

 animals are pastured on the lands belonging to the commune, 

 or on private enclosures when the owner permits. When a 

 member dies or retires from the association, the herd is 

 divided-up and the society re-formed. If an animal is sold 

 or dies the price or loss is divided among the members in 

 proportion to the interest of each in the herd. These associa- 

 tions, of which there are some thirty in Castellar, are very 

 ancient, and it is said that the system has never given rise to 

 any difficulty among the inhabitants. 



Mutual insurance of cattle has considerably developed of late 

 years in France, and in the department of La Vendee alone 



