134 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



needed, and more than needed, to teach our people the principles of 

 co-operation, which are foreign to the self-reliance and independ- 

 ence of the Scotch cliaracter. The Scottish Agricultural Organi- 

 sation Society has begun the work. The proposed new Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, of which we are to speak presently, might 

 with advantage take it up and carry it forward. The lines along 

 which progress should be made have been clearly defined in 

 other countries where the co-operative movement is in existence. 



Creameries and Egg Depots 



The first branch of agriculture tackled in Denmark and in 

 Ireland was dairying, and in both countries co-operative dairying 

 has succeeded beyond the expectations of the most sanguine. 

 Every district in Scotland where situation, climate, soil, and other 

 conditions are suitable, should contain a co-operative creamery 

 and a co-operative egg-collecting depot. They might be separate 

 Societies in the larger districts, and in the smaller districts the 

 work of both might be done by one. 



Bacon-Curing Factories 



The establishment of Bacon - Curing Factories has almost 

 invariably followed the establishment of creameries, for the bye- 

 products of the dairy constitute to a considerable extent the food 

 on which pigs are reared. Thus, there might also be a co-operative 

 bacon-curing establishment, belonging to and run by the farmers. 

 Inasmuch as it requires a larger membership to run a bacon-curing 

 establishment than a creamery, it might be necessary for the 

 bacon-curing establishment to go further afield than the creamery 

 for the necessary raw material, but that would be no great 

 disadvantage. 



Market Gardeners' Association 



In every market-garden district there should be an association 

 for the purchase of market-garden requirements, and for the sale 

 and despatch of market-garden produce. 



Credit Banks 



Some system of agricultural credit might with advantage be 

 brought within the reach of the small farmer in Scotland. The 

 Eaiffeisen Bank system has been an inestimable benefit to the 

 small farmers of Ireland. In Scotland the individual advances 

 would probably require to be greater in amount than they have 

 been in Ireland. 



