GERMAN AGRICULTURAL BANKS. 97 



which 197,382 occupied hives with movable frames, and 
443,745 were housed in ordinary straw hives. The quantity 
of honey produced in 1897 was estimated at 68,000 cwts., and 
of wax 4,400 cwts.; the exports of honey in the same year 
from Hungary amounted to 30,000 cwts. 

A striking feature of the co-operative movement in the 
rural districts of Germany has been the 
German rapid growth in the number of co-opera- 
Co-operative . ; ie : ae 
Meticultucal oh loan and credit associations, or 
Banks. agricultural banks. In 1890 these 
MUMMDEEEd mony” 1.7204) but om February 
Ist, 1900, there were 9,428 banks of this character in operation 
in the Empire. Most of the agricultural banking associa- 
tions are worked on the Raiffeisen system; and a few are 
organised upon what is known as the Schulze Delitzsch 
system, but these are not so popular as the former in the 
purely rural districts. A description of both systems was 
given in this Journal in September, 1895. (Deudsche Land- 
wirthschaftliche Presse.) 

The Board have received through the Colonial Office a copy 
q Olan NCrndate du Oran October oOOs fOr 
Diseases Seeks : 
of Bees in the eradication of contagious diseases 
Western among bees in Western Australia. ‘This 
Australia. : 
Act requires every person who may have 
in his possession or under his care any colony, hive, or swarm 
of bees affected with foul brood or other contagious disease 
to forthwith report the same to the Department of Agriculture, 
and to take such steps for the eradication of such diseases as 
the Department may direct. It also empowers the Governor 
to appoint: one or more bee experts to carry out the duties 
necessary for the administration of the Act. 

— 
mS 
