86 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



degree to lessons they have learned by co-operation." — Whealt 

 Co-operative and Dairy Society, Co. Fermanagh. 



" Our beautiful co-operative hall stands proudly as an example 

 of what can be attained by organised co-operative effort." — 

 Cushinstown Agricultural Bank, Co. Wexford. 



" Besides teaching how to combine for their mutual financial 

 betterment, the I.A.O.S. has had much to do with the visible 

 social betterment of our rural community." — Enniscorthy 

 Co-operative Agricultural Society, Co. Wexford. 



" The work of the I.A.O.S. has created a new era of prosperity 

 for the many farmers in this district." — Athlone Co-operative 

 Poultry and Farm Produce Society, Co. Westmeath. 



" Our society, which was organised by the I.A.O.S., has been 

 of far greater benefit to the poor congest of this district than 

 any Government Board has been for the last fifty years, although 

 some of these Boards have spent thousands of pounds of public 

 money here." — Templecrone Co-operative Society, Co. Donegal. 



Still wider possibilities in the development of all this good 

 work are being opened out by the establishment in Dublin 

 of " The Plunkett House," in which the work is now carried 

 on. It is the outcome of a movement set on foot in 1908 

 for presenting to Sir Horace Plunkett a testimonial in 

 recognition of his services to agricultural organisation in 

 Ireland, the substantial amount raised being, at the request 

 of Sir Horace, devoted to the purchase of a large house 

 which would serve as a headquarters for the study of rural 

 sociology in addition to providing accommodation for the 

 staff of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society. A 

 scheme for "A Country Life Institute : A suggested Irish- 

 American Contribution to Rural Progress," was put forward 

 in 1909 by Sir Horace, in a Plunkett House pamphlet 

 issued under this title. The aim of the Institute is therein 

 stated to be : — 



" To advance the well-being of the large and scattered 

 agricultural population by bringing together information as 

 to the progress of rural communities, by encouraging the 

 scientific study and investigation of the conditions which 

 contribute to their social and economic advancement, and by 

 spreading knowledge and stimulating public opinion on the 

 vital importance of a strong farming and rural community 

 to the maintenance of the National life as a whole." 



