i86 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



with. The points to be kept in view are different. Above 

 all things it is desirable to know which will prove the 

 most appreciative market for any given class of animal, 

 or a particular specimen of it, whatever be its species. 

 There are few farmers, not specialists, whose knowledge 

 in this respect extends very far. The Co-operative Society 

 can, by acting together for many, provide itself with experts 

 fully up to the mark in this respect. Another point is, 

 to determine the best time for selling a beast. You do not 

 want to sell it before it is ripe ; but you do not want to keep 

 it after, unless the conditions of the market really require it. 

 And then there is the organisation of transport, and the 

 actual selling on the market. For their sale of eggs, bacon 

 and the like the Danish co-operators have arrangements, 

 such as some of our agricultural co-operators have likewise 

 established (for instance the Blairgowrie fruit growers), 

 for maintaining telegraphic and telephonic intercourse, 

 on the one hand, with their members, and, on the other, 

 with the various markets. The Danish societies receive 

 telegraphic advices from the British markets, which tell 

 them every day what is the position of each particular 

 market ; and according to their import they direct the sales 

 of their members, telephoning to these, so as to regulate 

 supply, avoiding glut in one place and emptiness in another. 

 Such arrangement has an advantageous effect not only in 

 contenting buyers, but also in maintaining prices, steadiness 

 in which is really of greater practical value to the producer 

 than an occasional spasmodic boom. In dealing with live 

 stock, time is not equally precious. But it is essential to 

 be well and promptly informed. And the heads of the 

 Society, knowing — let us say, at Ipswich — what beasts 

 there are maturing or ready for sale, and what are the 

 requirements of the several markets — with the specialist's 

 opinion given as to the proper market for each one, to 

 secure the best price — can well regulate the supply, sending 

 animals at the right time to the right place and assigning 

 full truckloads to every dispatch — all which benefits 

 the vendor, while at the same time contenting the con- 

 sumer. 



