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propose measures for their improvement. Experience
proves, as the Diet points out, that barley and rye
ripen high up in the northern country, and roots grow
in the farthest north, while prairie land is certainly
plentiful; but nobody has ever thoroughly gone into
the matter or considered the possibilities of these vast
regions.
Several State funds have been formed for lending
money to establish dairies, and to cultivate
peatbogs and other unreclaimed land. Thus in 1851
such a fund was formed, and in 1885 another
of 2 million marks was voted to be lent without
interest to parish authorities, and by these re-lent in
small amounts to private persons at the low interest of
3 per cent. At the same time more money was granted
to be lent for the reclamation of moors and peat-bogs.
The first fund was exhausted very soon, 300 parishes
asking for loans, and it was decided to use
three-quarters of the second fund in a similar fashion,
lending it to the Communes at 3 per cent. By the end of
1898 rather more than 3 millions had been lent to
the parishes; and these had themselves formed funds
out of the interest received amounting to more than
750,000 marks, which they are re-lending. All this,
however, is not sufficient. The methods savour too
much of officialdom, and central control is difficult
even when the loans are arranged through the
communal authorities. In fact this low interest makes the
loan an act of charity. Up to the present time,
however, most of the capital used for agricultural
improvements has been obtained by selling timber.
It has now been decided to establish a new central
institution for lending money to co-operative
associations. The government will grant a subvention for
the cost of administration, and may also assist in other
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