ILLUSTRATIONS FROM WORCESTERSHIRE 303 



a threatened serious fall in the prices for both 

 fruit and vegetables, which individuals would 

 have been powerless to prevent, has been 

 checked. Then, beyond the ordinary functions 

 of an agricultural co-operative association, the 

 Bewdley society has provided its members with 

 a well-arranged " swim-bath," with drying floor, 

 pens, etc., where they can have their sheep 

 "dipped," without trouble or risk, at Id. per 

 sheep — a moderate charge which, nevertheless, 

 leaves a margin of profit for the association. 



At Far Forest, four miles from Bewdley, there 

 is a village agricultural society which obtains, at 

 wholesale prices, and to the extent of about 

 £1,500 a year, all kinds of necessaries for the 

 local farmers, and helps them with the sale of 

 their poultry, fruit, eggs, etc. The members of 

 the committee represent six different religious 

 denominations, but there has never yet been any 

 friction. " Vicars Farm, Ltd.," organized in the 

 summer of 1902 by the Rev. G. F. Eyre, vicar 

 of Far Forest. ;is a separate co-operative society, 

 was started with the idea of conducting a poultry 

 farm ; but its main business to-day is the control 

 of a dairy which collects milk from its members, 

 and distributes it in the form of bottles of ster- 

 ilized milk, cream, and skim-milk to customers 

 over a considerable area. 



