WORK DONE OR PROJECTED 209 



cost about 7,000. This capital should also be supplied, 

 in the main, by the fanners themselves in order that they 

 might have a sufficient financial interest in the concern to 

 ensure their being loyal thereto. 



Other conditions essential to success are, that the factory 

 should be within sufficiently easy reach of a large industrial 

 centre to allow of a ready sale for offal and by-products ; 

 that the manager should be thoroughly conversant with all 

 branches of the trade, and should understand the best and 

 most remunerative methods of dealing with the by-products 

 of the pig ; and that the directors should be alike capable 

 business men and farmers having a good knowledge of the 

 pig trade. 



At Roscrea, Tipper ary, Ireland, a co-operative bacon 

 factory was started in 1909, as a society under the 

 provisions of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 

 1893. It has a subscribed capital of 15,000 and some 

 2,800 members, mostly farmers, there being thus a widespread 

 interest in the undertaking and especially among those who 

 are looked to for the necessary supplies. The members of 

 the Roscrea society, like those of the Danish bacon factory 

 societies, agree, under a penalty, to send to the factory all 

 the pigs they may raise which are of bacon weights. There 

 are, also, about 50 private bacon factories in various parts 

 of the United Kingdom. As regards co-operative bacon 

 factories in England and Wales, one is now being put up at 

 Hitchin, Hertfordshire, under a scheme in which Lord Lucas 

 is interested. The West Sussex branch of the Farmers' 

 Union has decided to adopt a scheme on co-operative lines, 

 and has appealed for guidance to the A. O. S., which is 

 drawing up rules with a view to the early registration of a 

 co-operative bacon-curing factory. The subject is also 

 under consideration in other districts. 



BACON IMPORTS. 



It is a matter for consideration whether the time 

 has not come for the making of more vigorous efforts to 

 promote bacon production at home. 



A.O. p 



