French Agricultural Warrants. 



^507? 5 was caused by hail. The average damage per 

 hectare (2*47 acres) was or nearly 24s. an acre. To 

 provide against this loss there exists a State hail insurance 

 department as well as four private societies. In 1895 they 

 paid as compensation in all the sum of ;£96,903, and received 

 in premiums ^121,247. The preference shown for the State 

 department is proved by the fact that the latter effected 75 

 per cenle of this business. In June, 1898, the hail insurance 

 department had 116,000 insurers. 



{Foreign Office Report^ Annual Series, No. 2,158. Price \\d7\ 



French Agricultural Warrants Law. 



The Agricultural Warrants Bill, noted recently in this 

 Journal*, underwent some modification in passing through 

 the French Chambers. The law, as finally passed, has been 

 published in the Journal Officiel (20th July, 1898), the chiet 

 changes in the provisions already noted being as follows : — 



The classes of produce upon v/hich a warrant may be 

 obtained are : cereals, in the sheaf or thrashed ; dry fodders, 

 driedherbs ; dried vegetables and fruits ; feculse ; animal or 

 vegetable textile matters ; oleaginous seeds and seeds for 

 sowing ; wines, ciders, brandies, and alcohol ; cocoons ; cut 

 woods, resins, and tanning barks ; cheeses, honey, and wax ; 

 vegetable oils ; and agricultural salt. 



It is not necessary for the farmer pledging his ' produce to 

 insure it ; but he is responsible for the goods which remain 

 under his care, and has no indemnity in the case of damage. 

 The registration stamp of fifty centimes is only obligatory in 

 case of protest ; and the warrant, to be negotiable, is subject 

 only to the usual commercial stamp of one halfpenny per £a^. 



" Vol. IV., Dec, 1897, page 349. 



