New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-05
ORGANIZED AGRICULTURE.

Among the social and industrial movements
Of the present time in Europe which are worthy
Of serious attention in this country. one Of the
most significant is that Of the Agricultural Syn
dcatcs In France. These bodies correspond in
a measure with the Patrons Of Ilusbandry, or
Oranges In this country, and perhaps received
their suggestions and initiative thercfrom.
They had their origin about eleven years
ago. being called forth by the needs of
the farmers. II had been observed that
while all other businesses and trades had
their unions or other organizations for mutual
aid. the tillcrs Of the soil had none. There
seemed no valid reason. inherent In the nature
Of the case. why they should not have them and
profit by them. Accordingly the experiment was
made, at first on n small scale. In 1884 only five
local syndcaics were formed with few score
members each The next year saw 30, the next
o. Thcnccforward their growth was steady and
rapid both In numbers and In size. At present
there are about 800 Of them. and some have
from ~ 900 10 5000 members each. The en-
tire membership exceeds 1.0OOOOO, or nearly
three per cent OF the entire population OF the
Republic There Is probably no industry or
business In France more generally or more thor
oughly organized
II is not however. agricultural labor-meaning
the hired workmcn on the farms-that Is thus
organized nor can these syndicates be regarded
as mere labor unions They partakc rather of
the nature Of cooperative societies and cnain-
hers OF commerce. and are composed OF the
farmers themselves the actual prOprletors or
the land. Indeed. the initiative has been taken
chiefly by the owners of large estates. They cor
daily invited the smaller proprietors to join
them. on equal terms. so that now the syndicates
comprise all classes Of farmers. from those own
ing one acre TO those owning thousands, all
united tremendously for the common good The
organization of them differs from that Of our
Oranges in not being secret and in having no
ritual. They are just plain, open, business
combinations. The ends at which they aim
are various One is the diffusion Of knowl-
edge. Meetings are held, discussions con
Quoted. and papers published, in order tha'
all may profit from the ideas, the expert
ence and the observation OF each. In THIS
way the farmers of France are making much
progress in practical scientific farming, ana are
learning much about the nature and requirements
of different soils, the culture OF crops, the use
Of fertilizers implements, etc. Another impor-
tant function of the syndicates Is the cheaper
purchase of supplies Of all kinds, by getting
them collectively at wholesale rates Instead Oh
each of 1000 farmers ordering his supplies OF
seeds and fertilizers separately, all the l,ooo
send in their orders together and thus erect
great saving The benefit of this system has al
ready proven very great.
There is yet another step to be taken to per
feet the work Of these syndicates That Is, 10
appy TO selling the system now used In purchas'
ing. At present, in France as elsewhere, one OF
tho chief burdens upon the farmer is The middle
man. He stands between the producer and the
consumer and levies tribute upon both. He
makes the prices received by the one lower and
those paid by the other higher than they should
normally be- There has been in France vast
increase in the number Of mlddlcmen, far beyond
any legitimate needs Of trade The number has
trebled in less than twenty years. This increase
in numbers and competition has not diminished
I'M, vastly increased the evil OF the system. I'M
I'll both producers and consumers are crying out
against IT, Could 1t be done away WITH the
farmers would make better profits and the city
people would get cheaper food; ana several
million middlemen would be driven into some
form of productive industry, instead Of fatten-
ing upon the industry Of others. This part OF the
svndlcates' work will doubtless be much more
difficult than the other. but II will. II accom-
plished he also more bcnccent, not only to the
farmers but to the whole nation. The efforts Of
fine syndicatcs to accomplish 1t will be watched
with widespread and sympathetic interest