The Green Forest tribune., 1910-08-12
GERMAN FARMERS IN UNION
United States AgricuIturists Might Profit by Following Example,
 Says Consul Thackara.

United States Consul General A. w. Thackara of Berlin thinks the farm CTS of the United States could study with profit the agricultural conditions in Germany. He points out that the German league is effective in aiding the membership financially, the loans aggregating over $300000,000, in i'm proved culture through travelling ex- perts, in selling farm products and in purchasing supplies which amount to many million dollars annually.
 The largest of the German organi- cations has been known since the year 1903 as the Imperial Union of Ag- ricultural Societies. The second or ganization, known as the General Union of Agricultural Societies, was founded in 1871. These two agricul- tural organizations were united in 1905 for all administration purposes.
 The local societies making up the organizations were founded for vari- ous purposes. Many of them may have a single activity, others have their functions so intermingled that it is not always possible to distinguish them. In general, however, one may make the following classification of groups, namely, savings and loan societies, so- cieties for consumers and societies for the sale Of farm products. This latter group is often subdivided according to the character of the products sold.
 At the close of last year, the Im- perial agriculture organization em- braced 67 unions, made up of 1S,339 local societies. The total membership of these societies was then 1,575,000. The local societies were divided into groups, in accordance with their prin- cipal purpose of union. There were 12,584 saving and loan societies, 2,12S cooperative purchasing societies, 1860 dairy societies, and approximately 1,591 societies devoted to various oth- CT objects.
 The general agricultural organiza- tion has a membership of 5,172 local societies. Of this total number 4,29S are saving and loan societies. These locals have total membership of
 
 sion as member of either of these groups is nominal one. The coop erative purchasing society is the sec ond in number and in importance of any of the group of the Imperial orga- nization. 1t has a membership of 216,- GOO persons. The value of goods pur chased through it last year exceeded by approximately $4,284,000 the pur- chases of the previous year. The prin- cipal articles purchased by the farm CTS through their organization are fer tilizers, food stuffs, seed, coal and az ricultural machinery. The working capital of the cooperative working societies is a little over $10,000,000.
 The consul general at Berlin points out that the function of these great farmer organizations is much broad CT than merely for the purpose of eel lective bargaining in the sale of farm products, etc, for in each division there are scientific experts, who on application, and payment of the fee, visit the farms of the different mem- bers and advise with them concerning the cultivation of their growing crop and the care of their live stock Aside from the saving and loan group, which is by far the most numerous of any of the groups of the general organizations, there are ITS local societies cooperating in purchas- iIEg~and selling agricultural imple- ments. Among a number of the local societies in certain communities az ricultural machinery is owned by the society, for the general use of the diff ferent members. The common use of such machinery has proved of great assistance to the members, particular ly of such machinery as grain clean CTS, thrashers, etc, which are too ex- pensive for one man to buy and which | are used only during a short season of each year.
 Consul General Thackara quotes an eminent German economist as saying that the significance of the agricul- tural unions in Germany lies in their honest business dealings, in their in- sistence on cash payment and on 1 economy in operating expenses, in their struggle against usury and de ception, in the business and moral training which they give to the lower ! and middle classes, and in the happy combination of progressive principles and brotherly feeling which they stim- Ulate.
 Cotton Men Meet.