The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-11
FARMERS VS. PEASANTS Agriculture Is on a
 Higher Plane. COOPERATION DID IT Great Social Development h
 France. From Rough Necessity. the FreneA Farmer Has Come To Be censsa- cred One of the sfsi.sssys
 and Supports of
BY A. w. L,AMoURrUx.

b e<Hs<~~% cultural Show, which has just been held in Paris. was taken in France aa an occasion for celebrating fhe success of the agricultural co-operation he- tween the government and the farmer. The show has always been suRgestive and may grow in importancme. but since 1t cannot be again held In inc vast Gaierie des Machines. whichkis doomed. 1t is feared that 1t may he divided Into two parts. In any event. 1t is the last of q series and cotnci- dences with significant advance in the theory and practice of French aG- riculturs.
 It is a sign Of the indfsputabie rec vival of Agriculture, apparent in differ ent forms in most European countrieA that farmers have become travellers. Several English farmers were seen in Paris making the closest inauiries Into the new varieties of wheat. into the threshing machinery. and even into the relations of farmers with the govern ment. But more French farmers were seen who are going to the royal show in England this summer. and others are quite determined to initiate close iy British methods of breeding stock
 Few movements in France are of more historicni interest than ths change in the social position of the French farmer during. the last twenty years. The farmer was previously re garded as a rough necessary hctnE. with whom cultivated relations wefc unthinkabie. He was a peasant. witBs out the Arcadian attributes that the word may sometimes convey. TodaY the farmers arc a distinguished gr0un composing a widely recognized ariE- tocracy. Their ranks arc increased by young men of good family, who pre- pare themselves for the life by thev- ough study of. the science of the eui- ject. One such had spent some time as sn apprentice on a Norfolk farm h England and one result of the knowl~ edge which he there acquitted was that he won all the prizes possible with hts Oxfordshire sheep, bred from stock imported two years ago. Ills animals excited considerable interest. only less than the HouthdowRa. which. of all animals in the show. were most keen- ly discussed and thoroughly inspecfea by the French farmers.
 These modern French farmers. alert scientifically trained men, of wide in- teresfs and quite as skernIy determin. ed as the most acquisitive peasant 70 make their profession pay good Inter- est, mean to challenge England in the struggle for the trade with America and Africa. Tn some varieties and species they are, of course, already riv- ais of England Tn horses. for exam nia. the Percheron has beaten the Ehire and rfvalled the Ciydesdale. Va- rious varieties of French stock also have their adherents across the At lantic.
 The change.ih quality among Bremen agriculturists does not mean the ex- tinctfon of the small man. II IS true that small tenant farmers are beinR by some farming landowners who And that they can farm 70 Drt- ter profit and with less trouble by hi<n farming organized on wide scale. But the small proprietor does welL vraa proof of the power of eo-opeYa- tion and the effects of the elosr ai- iiance between the government aud thn farnere. The Credit Mutuet Aericoie announced by diagrams and hEures set up on the walls of the gallery Inc result of their labors. The hgnres arS worth attention; they proclaim an sshseva,nent unpreeedsnted in the econ. ou,ies of the subject. Tfis great or- eaulxation has 2.70o local branches yvfth a membership. consisting wholly of cuiftvators. Of 19s,17o. These lneah deal with the Eoverninenx through ninety-four district branches. The advances made by the state o so these district branches were h hspe oniy ei2.O0Of. Tn 1908. the years loan amounted to 4l.02e.e42f. The farmers nav per cent on money lent. Tne government lends to the local branches st per cent; the difference going fo the support of the organization.
 one Of the chief orRanizers of the National Show said that . bad dehf was almost unknown. so accurate was fha knowledge acquired by the local 6istributors. This result Is made pos aibie by the multiplicity of co-operativ@ aasoetations in the country, to which rather than to individuals the money Ia lent. The result of these loans on the efficiency of heNfarming is incal- culable Every capable man has the command of capital and has become aware that hign farming pays best. Tine states loans enable him to Rrs full discount for all his seeds and Ter tilizers, which are all guaranteed 70 De uu to standard by the inspectors Of the syndicates and the money saved m this way more than pays for SIX months or so interest on the porroWeu money.
 nerhaps. exceptional. Tn no branch Of have the syndicatee done more apparentl good than in dairying. On the authority of the Minister ox Arricuitutre. 1t Is stated that France supports about million more cowh.
 
 twerty wears ago. This Is almost wholly due to cooperation.
 NJ. sirnyan, tho French PostmasteFe oeneral ,has suggested the adoption ot a gysteua of post office banks all oves Trance by means of which restdentA nav open en account at any post-ox. ace be given check book. and ha abie to draw checks payable at any post -ofice. all over the country. ID theory the plan is excellen. Al the sa-sSant lime it takes as long to cash the ordinary post ofiiec order of com. merce in a French ofice ss to travel from Paris to Lone9n. In fact. # takes longer. if the order comes from abroad For then 1t is payable oniy ~ tne esns tral office and to Ket payment made hs any other office in Paris entails ds~ lay of a couple of days, and the pre- duction of many papers.
 Hn. .s.M