174 Co-operation amongst French Farmers. 



of the profits is divided amongst the shareholders propor- 

 tionally to the amount of corn delivered during the year, and 

 a further 2 5 per cent, is divided among the co-operative and 

 other bakeries which have affiliated themselves to the mill 

 in order to ensure a sufficient outlet for the flour. It is 

 estimated that the 25 per cent, returned to the farmers is 

 equivalent to an increase in the price of wheat of from is. 2d. 

 to IS. 8d. per quarter, and in addition the charges of the corn- 

 dealer, who usually receives 5d. to lod. per quarter, are 

 eliminated. 



Co-operative bakeries are numerous in France. Generally 

 speaking, they are consumers' associations, buying the flour 

 required ; but there are some country districts, notably in 

 the Charente-Inferieure, where these associations receive the 

 farmers' wheat, and deliver to them bread in return. One 

 such syndicate, for instance, takes from each member as 

 much wheat (of good merchantable quality) as is necessary 

 for the food of his family, and gives an equivalent of bread 

 in return ; whatever the price of grain, the member receives 

 65 lbs. of bread for every 78 lbs. of wheat. So far as concerns 

 the consumption of his own family, therefore, the farmer is 

 independent of fluctuations in the price of corn. This society 

 further buys from the outside trade a certain quantity of flour 

 of the best quality to mix with that received from the farmers, 

 so as to improve the bread. A second syndicate, the mem- 

 bers of which pay no subscription, takes the wheat from the 

 farmer, grades it, and passes it on to the miller. The wheat 

 is valued once a month, according to current quotations, and 

 the farmer receives a ticket for bread to the value placed on 

 his wheat. The price of bread is also determined once a 

 month by a committee, this price being based on the net 

 result of the month's trading. This society counts some 600 

 or 700 members, and makes about 236 cwts. of bread per 

 month — the price (at the beginning of 1 895) being roughly 3|d. 

 per 4 lb., as against the trade price in the neighbourhood of 

 about 4jd. per 4 lb. 



Proicdion of Growing Crops. 



In many districts of France the farmers have found it 

 necessary to have recourse to combined action to protect 



