244 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



average losses. " To judge from the experience of these 

 societies/' says the writer of the article concerning them, 

 " it is possible for a community of small holders and cottagers, 

 in any part of the country which is not exceptionally 

 unhealthy for cattle, to form a co-operative mutual insurance 

 society, and insure each other from loss of their cows by 

 disease or accident up to a value of 10 per cow, on payment 

 of charges amounting in all to less than 55. per cow per 

 annum." 



It is further pointed out that insurance companies which 

 deal in live stock insurance would charge a premium of 

 155. per annum, and this would not cover death from fire 

 or lightning. One reason for the difference is that the large 

 company must set aside about 40 per cent, of its premium 

 income to pay for commission, agency fees, veterinary 

 expenses, clerical and expert staff, interest on capital, 

 depreciation of buildings and profits to shareholders ; but 

 there is the further reason that whereas, on an average, 

 6 per cent, of the dairy cows insured with companies die 

 every year, the losses among cows insured in village clubs 

 average only a little over 2 per cent, per annum, mainly 

 owing to the small holder's cow being generally so well looked 

 after. ' The truth seems to be," the writer of the article 

 adds/ 'that no company can be run so cheaply as a village 

 cow club, managed by themselves on neighbourly lines ; 

 and that there are few animals in the world so well protected 

 from disease and accident as the British cottager's cow." 



PIG CLUBS. 



Pig clubs are also of both the registered and the unregis- 

 tered type. The former number only 33, whereas there are 

 known to be over 1,000 pig clubs altogether in England and 

 Wales. The great majority maintain themselves simply as 

 " private associations of private individuals, without any 

 legal standing or outside help." In 1905 it was ascertained 

 that pig clubs were to be found in 26 counties. Lincolnshire 

 had the largest number, namely, 309 ; Northamptonshire 

 had 114 and Wiltshire 112. 



