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 
Inowledge 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 system 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. 
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