1 Mar., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 175: 
If you desire to fertilise the plants, it is best to use liquid manure, either 
stable or chicken-house—the latter preferred on account of the lime in it; and 
care should be taken not to have it too strong, or it will burn the plants. ‘To 
make the liquid, take a barrel of water, put in the manure, and stir until 
dissolved. If the farmer will follow the above directions, he will have healthy 
vigorous plants that will stand transplanting, will grow off readily, and be free 
from insects, and I believe blue-mould will be unknown in his beds. He will) 
have a start ahead of the insects, and will find that he will get his crop to- 
grow with less labour. 
CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS IN FRANCE. 
CO-OPERATION AMONGST STOCKOWNERS. 
THe Journal of the Bureau of Agriculture (England) some time ago reprinted. 
an account given in the Journal of the Board of Agriculture on co-operative 
agricultural associations in France. These associatioris are there called 
syndicates,” and are formed for various purposes. For instance, stock-: 
owners (i.e., peasant farmers) combine to purchase a pure-bred bull, which 
is then their joint property. A committee is formed, and a herd-book is. 
opened. Every member is then expected to register the name of at least one 
breeding cow for services of pure blood. The finest of the calves thus pro-- 
cured are inscribed in the herd-book as breeding animals; the others are sold.. 
The expert committee periodically inspects the breeding animals to see that 
they are well kept, and that the young animais 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. 
Numerous syndicates have been formed in France to secure for their members- 
the advantage of cheap fodder, &c., by obtaining large quantities at wholesale: 
prices. 
A curious instance of associations for the common ownership of a herd. 
is recorded from Castellar, near the Italian frontier. The care of the collec- 
tive herd (which consists of 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 land 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 reformed. 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 associations, 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 increased of late years in. 
France, and in the Department of La Vendée alone fifty-five associations have: 
been established for the purpose. The business of these societies is usually 
confined to insurance against mortality, but there is one instance of a society 
insuring its members against the seizure of carcasses intended for the butcher 
which are declared by the authorities to be tuberculous. The insurance of the: 
milch cows of their members has also become a common feature in co-operative 
dairies. 
FLOUR-MILLS. 
In several districts in France, agriculturists have-succeeded in dispensing’ 
with the services of the miller by forming milling associations on a co-opera- 
tive basis. One such example is the Co-operative Milling Society of Arbois 
