CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS 75 



good to some extent by instruction and in 

 connection with the new movement increasing 

 attention is being directed to the need of 

 education in special branches of agriculture. 



Co-operation. 



WTien all such conditions have been ful- 

 filled and sufficient capital is also available, 

 the economic position of the small man must 

 still remain weak, unless he has some other 

 business or means of subsistence, as a good 

 many have ; and the remedy for individual 

 weakness is combination. Co-operation is a 

 great help in all circumstances, but in adverse 

 ones it is almost a necessity. The classical 

 examples of what can be done with its help 

 are Denmark and Ireland, two predominantly 

 agricultural countries with comparatively 

 little wealth or resources drawn from other 

 activities. The story of co-operation in 

 Ireland has recently been told in some detail 

 in The Times (March 17), and a brief 

 reference must suffice here. Started in 1889 

 and gradually built up under difficulties and 

 in the face of apathy or hostility, mainly 

 through the ceaseless efforts of Sir Horace 

 Plunkett and a few friends, agricultural co- 

 operation has developed into a great, highly 

 successful, and progressive movement, which 

 has at length been recognised by the Govern- 

 ment in the recent decision to allow the Irish 



