196 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



more elaborate arrangements are necessary than for other 

 co-operative work. Motor wagons have previously had 

 rather a chequered career. We have not much to show of 

 that sort. Alike in the United States and in Germany 

 electric power and light and co-operative telephone service 

 are very much in vogue, and very large electric enterprises, 

 covering wide areas and supplying, in addition to a wide 

 country district, also small towns, have been very success- 

 fully set on foot and worked satisfactorily. However, even 

 in populous districts, where small towns are served — such 

 as Prussian Saxony, and of course even more in the American 

 West — it has been found that agricultural customers supply 

 the main support to these societies. We have facilities — 

 and I should say, occasion — for the employment of telephones 

 in connection with farming which do not seem half enough 

 severally recognised and put to use. The employment of 

 co-operatively owned electric plants has not only proved 

 a remarkable convenience and an appreciable economy, 

 but has in Germany to some extent also revolutionised 

 agricultural labour relations. Men and women alike who 

 left the country in disgust, because the hard work expected 

 of them when working with hand-power only tried them 

 too severely — like those heavy sacks, handed down by 

 tradition, which break down our farm boys' health, causing 

 ruptures — have willingly returned to their agricultural 

 occupations now that collar work has been lightened for 

 them by the introduction of the electric machine. And 

 electric lighting, permitting of the use of light in close 

 proximity to inflammable material, has been hailed as a 

 great convenience indeed. Electric power has become so 

 manageable a servant that it can readily be used for the 

 smallest as well as for the largest implements, working a 

 liquid manure pump or a chaff-cutter or corn crusher as 

 well as a big thrashing machine. 



Among our own nascent rural co-operative societies grist 

 mills have become great favourites. However, implements 

 of all kinds, mowers, reapers, drills, binders and what not 

 are already co-operatively owned and used. In Ireland 

 there is an enterprising and thrifty society which began 



