GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 



THE AGRICUIvTURAI. ORGANIZATION SOCIETY 

 IN ENGlvAND AND WAIVES. 



source: 



Thj-: Report of the AGRicin-TURAL Organization Society for the year ended March 

 31st, igi6. I^ondon, The Stepney Press, 1916. 



§ I. Introduction. 



The Agricultural Organization Society was founded in 1901 for the 

 purpose of advancing co-operation among English and Welsh farmers. 

 Its work is of a twofold character : 



i) It is a propagandist body — as such it seeks to spread the co- 

 operative principle and helps in the formation of new societies. 



2) It is an organizing body and as such advises and helps the socie- 

 ties already formed. 



The co-operative societies with which it concerns itself may have one 

 or more of the foil sowing objects : 



i) They may buy for their members manures, seeds, feeding stuffs, 

 implements and other articles, securing their purity and obtaining whole- 

 sale terms from the manufacturers, importers or wholesale merchants. 



2) They ma}^ help to market produce : 



a) by organizing the milk supply on a co-operative basis, thus 

 eliminating the middlemen's profits which lower the price to the producer 

 and raise it to the consumer; 



b) by establishing co-operative butter and cheese factories in 

 suitable districts ; 



c) by establishing co-operative depots for the collection of eggs; 



d) by grading and packing fruit in order to place it on the market 

 in a fresh and attractive condition; 



e) by organizing the proper classing and packing of wool, thus 

 securing a better price in the market for sheep breeders ; 



/) by organizing co-operative markets and by breaking down 

 the rings formed against the producer ; 



g) by organizing the consignment of goods in bulk and arranging 

 terms with railway companies and carriers, thus reducing the costs of 

 transport. 



3) They may hire or buy pedigree stallions, btdls or boars, for the 

 use of their members at reasonable fees. 



4) They may arrange for all kinds of agricultural insurance. 



