^ CO 



MR. ROBERT A. YERBURGH, M.P., 



One of the earliest supporters of Lord Winchil- 

 sea's British Produce Supply Association ; formerly 

 President of the National Agricultural Union, and 

 President from its inauguration, in 1901, of the 

 Agricultural Organisation Society; who, through 

 his foresight and his appreciation of the real wants 

 of Agriculture, was mainly instrumental in effect- 

 ing the transition in this country of Agricultural 

 Organisation from combination, based more or less on 

 political action, into co-operation, established primarily 

 on principles of self-help and mutual help ; who thus 

 became the Father of Agricultural Co-operation on 

 organised lines in Great Britain, and to whose 

 strenuous efforts in helping to ensure the successful 

 operation of the Agricultural Organisation Society is 

 materially due the recent evolution thereof from a 

 voluntary body, of limited means and opportunities, 

 into a State-recognised Organisation, aiming at the 

 accomplishment of a National Work on National 

 Lines, the present brief record of the rise of Agricul- 

 tural Organisation and its development, progress 

 and aspirations in Great Britain is respectfully 

 dedicated by 



THE AUTHOR. 





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