Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-01-01
WORK TOGETHER IN FINLAND
Agricultural Cooperation Initiated a
Few Years Ago, Reaches High Dc
gree of Development.

Agricultural cooperation in Finland,
although it was initiated only few
years ago, has now reached a high de-
gree of development. This result Is
largely due to the work of propaganda
and organization carried out by the
Pellelvo society, which was founded
In 1899 for this purpose.
Thus the contrary has taken place
in Finland in what usually occurs in
other countries; that is, there has
been central organization before the
single cooperative societies have been
founded. "a must also be pointed out
that the IEElyo was founded by the
intellectual md Is of the towns
rather than by yas farmers, because
they -alized that prudent and we'll
organized agricultural cooperation
was one Of the principal sources of
well being for the country.
After the foundation of the Pellervo
society and in consequence Of the law
OF 1901 on cooperative societies, the
Development of the latter was very
rapid In fact, after the Pellervo 40
agricultural societies were founded In
1901, SO in 1904 and 1922 in 1909.
In Finland the cooperative society
extend it's operations in the most va
ried branches Of the agricultural in
dustry. Some Of the more important
societies are those for dairy products.
In 1908 there were $40 Of these socie-
ties, with more than $4,000 members.
who supplied the societies with $685.
$40 hectoliters of milk, taken from
23S,00O COWS. There were 10,912,000
packages Of butter sold, being SS.5 per
cent. OF the total expectation Of butter
from Finland.
The cooperative credit societies are
of equal Importance. They are car
ried on on general lies in accordance
with the principles of the Raiffeisen
banks and their business is almost eX-
clusively the supply Of small sums to
small farmers. In 1909 there were
3S4 Of these funds, with $4,000 men,
bers. to whom loans were granted for
q sum total of 4,O2S,000 francs, an ay-
eraga of about 256 francs member.
The local cooperative credit socie-
ties are all affiliated with a central
bank, which was founded in 1902, and
carries on its operations by means OF
a loan of 100000 francs, granted to
It by the state, and an additional an
nual subsidy of 10000 francs. 1t acts
as a kind of heart in the organism of
the Finland cooperative credit socie-
ties, supplying capital to the small
local societies, which have to submit
to its control. In 1909 $40 co-opera-
tive societies out Of 34S Joined the
central institute. receiving 4.000,650
francs, in loans.
This Capitalization has been brought
about, not only in connection with the
cooperative credit societies, but also
with the others. Thus, in addition to
the central bank Of which we have
spoken, there is the important orga-
nization, the Haukkija, founded in
1905, the object Of which is the pur-
chase and sale of agricultural require
ments, the labor, constituted for the
same purpose; the falio, which is
central organ for the sale of the but
ter produced by the local cooperative
societies, and finally the cooperative
distributive central. In 1909 the four
central societies (excluding the La
borl comprised S59 cooperative socie-
ties, possessing a capital of S9S.000
francs, their business for the year be-
ing 32,109,000 francs. These figures
are sufficient to demonstrate the de-
velcpment Of agricultural cooperation
in Finland, which really appears mar
velous when the geographical position.
tie distribution of the population and
1lse climate Of tbs country are taken
into consideration.