WORK DONE OR PROJECTED 219 



cases ; and that the net profit of the thirty-one societies 

 on the year's working was 15. Some of the societies are 

 doing very well, and this is especially the case with those at 

 Scawby and Friskney, Lincolnshire ; Wiggenhall and 

 Whissonsett, Norfolk ; Coggleshall and Tiptree, Essex ; 

 and Hedge End, Hampshire ; but others are doing very 

 little, and still others are on the point of being wound up. 



BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM. 



Whilst it is perfectly true that the actual need for special 

 credit and banking facilities for the agriculturist is not so 

 great in England as in various other countries, it is great 

 enough both to justify all that it has been sought to do and 

 to call for still further action. 



Growers who have inherited and still cherish the prejudices 

 of their forefathers against raising a loan for carrying on 

 their business of agriculture have no hesitation in depending 

 on long credit obtained from some dealer or trader ; though 

 in the result they may pay heavily for the favour, finding 

 themselves bound to purchase from the dealer or trader all 

 their requirements, of such quality as it suits him to supply, 

 and at such prices as he may please to ask ; or they may, 

 alternatively if not in addition be under an obligation 

 to let him have their produce, when it is ready, on practically 

 his own terms. 



In such cases as these an agricultural credit society would, 

 among other things, restore the grower to independence of 

 the credit-giving but much-exacting dealer, and, while 

 providing him with the means to conduct his business on a 

 business footing, leave him free to buy and sell under the 

 most favourable conditions. Although, too, the extent of 

 the operations carried on may appear small, the reports made 

 by the societies show that much benefit has been conferred 

 by them on many a small grower by supplying him with a 

 modest sum which, though insignificant from the point of 

 view of London financiers, may have helped him to raise 

 stock or to cultivate his holding with a success he might 

 otherwise have hoped for in vain. 



