Villaije Chihs and Associations. 19 



5 per cent, per annum, while 3 or 4 per cent, is paid on deposits, 

 and the societies have to pay from 3 to 4^ per cent, for loans 

 from joint stock banks. Management expenses have generally 

 been small, and considerable profits have been made by a few 

 societies. Profits cannot be divided, and in case of dissolution 

 they must be used for some purpose of public utility in the 

 locality. Current profits are applied to a reserve fund, and 

 when this is sufficient to meet any emergencies, profits can be 

 reduced by increasing the rate of interest to depositors, or 

 diminishing the rate to borrowers. So far the records of the 

 societies show that loans are returned with a high degree of 

 promptitude and honesty, although of course cases are not 

 unknown where the sureties which each borrower must provide 

 have been called upon, and in numerous cases loans have been 

 renewed. 



Stock improvement societies, mostly formed since 1890, 

 have had for their object the provision of pure bred sires, for 

 the improvement of stock in their locality. Although their 

 members consist for the most part of farmers, membership is 

 not confined to one social class, and the associations serve the 

 interest of any person breeding a certain kind of stock within 

 the localitj^ The object of most of the societies has been to 

 provide either Shire horses or Shorthorn sires of reliable 

 character, and almost without exception they have been a great 

 success. 



In another field the village horticultural societies have 

 had the same results. There are several hundreds of these in 

 large English villages, having for their objects the stimulation 

 of improvement in garden and allotment culture ; and, also, 

 the provision of the annual fete which no other association has 

 provided for the parish. These associations were mostly formed 

 in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, and some of them 

 have been in existence for about fifty years. Some were formed 

 under patronage, others were formed solely by villagers. In a 

 few cases they developed out of a small exhibition of fruit and 

 vegetables on the occasion of the annual club day of the 

 village sick club. By means of membership fees, but more by 

 collected subscriptions, they are able to hold annual exhibitions 

 of fruit, flowers and vegetables, for the purpose of creating 

 interest in horticulture, and in this way much good has been 

 accomplished. Some shows are "open," others are confined to 

 one parish, but in any case visitors from neighbouring parishes 

 are numerous, and social intercourse between villages is 

 increased. 



Conclusion. 

 It is not too much to say that during the last century such 

 corporate life as the villages of England have enjoyed has 



