The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-04-30

There has been established under
this law, and were in operation Janu-
airy 1, 1900, 1853 societies, divided
as follows among 8,5O1, 685 farmers
and farm workers of the two sexes
in France:
Syndicates of employers. 80. 2,l57
Syndicates of wOrkingmen =. 1855
Employers and wOrkingmen
Agriculturists 2,OoI
Total 7,O80
This is an increase of 656 over the
agricultural syndicates of 1899. 1t
was almost evenly divided between
the workingmen and owners of
farms.
To organize under the law of 1854,
it is necessary that one or more per-
sons should form a group of about
twenty men of good standing. These
recruit a number OF honorary mem
bers, often of the wealthy or of the
titled gentry, and they proceed to
elect a president, n or two vice
presidents, a board of administra-
tors Consisting of from three to
nine ~persOns), a secretary, and a
treasurer. The board thus organ
lied, bylaws and constitution are
drawn up. To facilitate this, sample
copies of printed constitutions and
bylaws are provided. Once adopted,
the president deposits one copy at
the town hall with the mayor and
one is sent to the law officer of the
county-fOr example, to the prose-
cutting attorney. Each contains a
list of the officers.
Of the 1892, $50 members of the
various syndicates, the farmers mum.
Der 512,794.
These farmers syndicates combine
and organize in a larger society,
called a union, of which there are
ten in France, o,wit: The North
ern Union, headquarters in Boul gne
the Normandy Union, headquarters
at Caen; the Breton Agricultural
Union, Rennes the u estern Union,
Anglers the Burgundy Union, Dillon
the Alpine and Provence Union,
Marseiles the Southwestern Union,
Bordeaux: the Union du Midi, Tou-
louise; the Southeastern Union,
Lyons.
Over these is a central body in
Paris, to which all the subordinate
unions report and which represents
their interests before the French
Parliament, railroad companies, and
the public generally.
A union has all the rights and
powers of the syndicates, except that
it cannot sue or be sued or hold real
property, prerOgatives which are
conferred Only upon the sy indicates
and which hey cannot delegate.
SUBDIVISIONS.
Each society is divided into a mum
Der of subordinate societies. The
department or county union is
divided into ACCOMPLISHMENT syndi-
Gates, these into cantonal syndicates,
and these in turn into communal
s~yndicates.
The agricultural societies, there,
fore, extend through all the ramif,
cations of the body polite of France.
from the Central Government down
to the lowest HOlitical unit. A cor.
responding division in our country
would involve national, State.
county, town~hip, and hamlet agri
cultural boards, all interlinked and
interdependent.
In the by-la VS., the general object
of d syndicate is stated to be 1.-THE
study of the interests of agricul
ture."
The special objects are to favor
the discovery of new agricultural
prod cts TO obtain, at the Lowest
cost, the best fertilizer and seeds
the best agricultural implement.
and animals to increase production
to make labor easier ; to diminish the
cost of production and of living il
the country to give instruction il
agriculture by lectures, tracts
books, etc. to buy or hire the besr
agricultural implements and rem
them at a Wv price to members tt
facilitate the sale of agriculture
products at good prices TO advise OF
ali questions relating to farming tt
provide judges ana experts for the