2 9 2 ENGLAND AND WALES 



profits through the abolition of the middle- 

 man. It was an ambitious scheme, and one 

 which should have represented the climax rather 

 than the commencement of agricultural organi- 

 zation, many of the most powerful agricultural 

 bodies on the Continent having found, indeed, 

 that while co-operation for purposes of produc- 

 tion is eminently practicable, co-operative sale 

 is a very different problem, and one full of diffi- 

 culties. Lord Winchilsea, however, was sanguine 

 of success, and he raised capital that eventually 

 stood at £50,000. One-fifth of this sum was 

 paid out on the initial expenses, which included 

 the opening of commodious and well-arranged 

 stores in Long Acre, where a retail business was 

 to be carried on in addition to a wholesale 

 business in the adjoining Covent Garden market. 

 At first the prospects appeared extremely 

 hopeful. Lord Winchilsea's friends and sympa- 

 thizers gave him loyal support, and began to 

 patronize the Long Acre establishment in a 

 way that filled some of the West-end traders 

 with alarm. But these well-intentioned patrons 

 were soon discouraged. Experience showed 

 that British farmers could not be depended 

 on to forward regular consignments to the 

 depot, and that those which they did send in 

 represented, too often, either second or third- 



