Various  agricultural  implements  have  been  provided  by  the
association  and  have  proved  of  great  value,  in  enabling  farmers
at  last  to  benefit  by  modern  mechanical  improvements."

From  another  place  the  following  is  reported :  "  Here  the
custom  used  to  prevail  of  hiring  oxen  for  ploughing,  &c.,  the
result  being  very  beneficial  to  the  lender,  but  unsatisfactory  and
uneconomical  for  the  farmer.  The  association  has,  however,
superseded  this  custom  by  advancing  money  wherewith  farmers
have  been  able  to  purchase  their  own  oxen.  By  the  provision  of
artificial  manures  remarkable  success  has  also  been  secured  in
the, cultivation  of  waste  lands,  whicji,  though  formerly  entirely
disregarded,  now  yield  the  most  luxurious  crops."

Finally,  the  following  is  from  the  report  of  an  ofilcial  inspector


CO-OPEEATION  303

upon  tlio  associations  of  Lorraine  generally:  "  Tlio  a(lva,ntages
of  the  loan  system  are  unmistakable,  particularly  the  facility  of
repayment,  since  this  can  take  place  in  instalments  from  week
to  -week,  or  at  shorter  intervals,  just  as  money  can  be  spared.
The  articles  offered  for  sale  on  the  Co-operative  principle  are  very
popular.  In  districts  without  Raiffeisen  associations  the  prices
for  artificial  manures  were  formerly  very  high,  but  after  the
introduction  of  these  associations  they  fell  very  considerably,  and
the  result  of  their  wide  use  is  that  the  fertility  of  the  soil  has
been  greatly  increased,  insomuch  that  people  who  formerly  could
only  produce  wheat  to  last  them  three  months  can  now  supply
their  needs  for  the  whole  year  out  of  their  own  harvests.  More-
over, by  the  co-operative  sale  of  machinery,  marketable  corn  is
produced,  fetching  the  highest  prices,  and  the  peasant  is  enabled
to  use  his  crops  better  and  to  provide  for  himself  a  refreshing
summer  drink,  whereby  intemperance  has  been  decidedly  checked.
