Dec. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 845 



The individual is the basis of the local co-operative society, v^^hich itself is 

 a unit in a co-operative union, federation, or wholesale exchange. Individual 

 societies affiliated with such a union produce a greater co-operative zeal and 

 enthusiasm than where individuals are just members of some big co-operative 

 enterprise, or where the local co-operative society is but a branch of a bigger 

 concern. 



Every local society, therefore, should preserve its identity and have 

 necessary machinery thoroughly to represent its interests in the central 

 organisation. 



The local unit wiU require to organise itself, for as it is to retain its own 

 individuality it will need its local enthusiasts and directors. Therefore local 

 organisation is generally to be preferred to the system, which nevertheless 

 frequently succeeds admirably, of securing the services of a professional 

 organiser. Each organisation will need administrative ability and business 

 knowledge, and it is the poorest form of economy to engage a cheap manager. 

 A manager will be absolutely necessary, for his full time wiU be required. 

 As local conditions are of tremendous importance in designing and 

 administering the policy, the conception of the local society as a unit 

 affiliated with a central union is of the utmost importance. 



In co-operative marketing, expenses should be counted on the basis of 

 quantity not of price. It costs as much, often more, to market poor quality 

 produce, and as returns from the co-operative society are made, not in pro- 

 portion to the actual cash receipts for produce handled, but in proportion to 

 the quantity of produce handled, the tendency will always be to improve the 

 quality of the product. 



A Germination Standard for Luceene Seed. 



The suggestion has lately been made that a germination standard should be 

 fixed in respect of lucerne seed intended for export, and a standard of 90 

 per cent, has been mentioned. It was pointed out at a recent meeting that 

 certain seedsmen guarantee a germination of over 95 per cent. 



Such standards are admirable, but it is doubtful if in actual practice it 

 could be maintained, and if challenged it would probably be found that the 

 germination would very seldom indeed reach 95 per cent. Of all the samples 

 tested in the seed-testing laboratory at the Botanic Gardens, an average of 

 only about 80 per cent, has been obtained; in one case as much as 98 per 

 cent, of a sample germinated, and in others as little as 70 per cent. This 

 wide divergence is due to the number of hard seeds present, the proportion 

 varying considerably according to habit and conditions. Eor this reason 

 the United States Department of Agriculture is careful to set its standards 

 at 85 to 90 per cent., and this includes a third to a half of hard seeds 

 possessing slow germinating qualities. Under the circumstances New South 

 "Wales growers are not in a position to guarantee a standard of over 80 per 

 cent., excluding hard seeds. If a standard of 90 per cent, were fixed, it 

 should be with a clear reservation that haK the hard seeds present should 

 germinate, given sufficient time.— E. Breakwell, Agrostologist. 



