The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-06-27
IrALY's MARKETING METHODS
Co-Operation and Farm Credit sys.
tenn Practical and Profitable.
by S. A. Lindsey, Chairman Texas
Farm Life Commission.

first article | showed how the farm
ers Of Italy enjoyed better markets
for their wheat. corn potatoes and
other products of their farms, than
we Of Texas, and described a small
Raiffeissen Credit Association, COM
monty called a rural bank.
The lands OF Italy average better
than ours, due to mcthodlc and con
tinuous upbuilding of the soils. This
practice is universal throughout the
country. Ninety per cent Of the lands
are cultivated Hills and mountain
sides and narrow valleys are cultivat-
ed the same as the broad level black
lands and are made to yield as bount
iflly. As lands are valuable, Il is
/ cheaper to build and rebuild soils
than to purchase other lands. This is
true Of Texas lands, but our people
\ do not realize II yet when our peo-
pie shall have learned how to farm,
] and at the same time build up their
soils. Texas lands will excel those
Of Italy by greater odds than do the
/ lands of Italy now cxcell our Texas
lands But Texas lands will not be
properly farmed under present con
ditions. Two things stand in the way
namely our system Of tenantry and
| the credit system of our farmers.
/ No man. whether Italian or Texan,
| is going TO conserve, build and re-
build soil to which he has the right
of occupancy from only year to year
II requires means to farm properly
and profltably There must be well
thought out plans I'm order to farm
successfully. but what Is the use to
make the plans when there is not
the means available with which to
execute them?
The italian people have solved
these problems, and thoAe may be a
good lesson IN the methods pursued
here.
But first Oct me say that the Italy
/ Of today is not the Italy of twenty
years ago. The farmers of Italy pro-
duce almost six hundred per cent
more now than twenty years ago
You ask what wrought this change?
Several things. but the one that lies
ot the base and IS the most potent OF
an was and Is cooperative credit
The Raiffelssen and the Schulze-
Delitsch system OF credits had their
origins In Germany about fifty years
ago After they gained popularity a.
mong the people of Germany they
we're adopted Boy the farmers Of
northern Italy I'm 1883. I'M time these
institutions spread and became c5tab
/ lished throughout the northern por-
/ ton OF Italy which is close TO Ger
/ maryland proved OF such excellent
benefit TO that section, reeenerating
and accelcrating forming operation
/ and quickening an lines of business.
/ that efforts were made 90 introduce
I them in southern Italy by the govern
ment For this purpose. the State be-
gan In 1907 10 enact series of laws
20 assist I'm establishing these credit
associations and rural banks ln the
islands and south Italy IL first au-
| thorized the savings bank of the
Bank of Naples 10 engage Zoo the ru-
raj credits business in the southern
provinces OF Italy and In Sardinia.
and In 1906 an act was passed Great
ing a special rural credit section of
the Bank of Sicily These banks are
very large and powerful financial
institutions. They send out men Co
organize local rural banks. assist in
organizing and starting the bank
right. and then examine them from
time TO- time and lend them money on
their paper 40 four per cent which
the local rural banks are required to
lend at six per cent The difference
of two per cent builds up "a surplus
ln the local banks sufficient Goo more
than protect against losses. after pay
Ing lll operating expenses
The officials of these bis banks
informed us that the loans FOR asri
cultural purposes at four per cents O.
rate fixed by law. in no way affected
the rate 20 interest on loans for COM
mercIal and other purposes which
are controlled hy the money market
as formerly This they said. was due
to the fact that their rural banking
department made loans only to farm F.
ers. and 90 them only for agricuI- f
tural purpose $50 we see that these F.
rural banks are strictly business i'm .
situations and are not for charity 10 .
a farmer wishes TO purchase seed. 1
fertilizers. farm machinery or cattle. f.
he may have a loan. but not SD be-
cause he may have had bad luck and
needs money 90 buy food. clothing.