98 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



began to be experienced from the start, and they increased 

 almost daily in magnitude. 



Producers in the country sold their best qualities to the 

 ordinary traders, and expected that an Association started 

 in the interests of agriculturists would give them a good 

 price for their second-rate qualities. They felt hurt when 

 their supplies were rejected, and still more so when the local 

 agent started on his educational work of teaching them what 

 they ought to do. One or two other local Associations 

 were formed, and model rules were drawn up, in the hope 

 that still more would follow ; but the progress made in this 

 direction was very slight. 



In London itself, Society had shown much sympathy 

 towards the scheme while it was being projected ; but 

 dwellers in the West End found it inconvenient to deal with 

 a depot so far away as Long Acre, and when it was sought to 

 overcome their objections in this respect by the opening of a 

 West End branch, they would still make no allowance 

 for those who could not supply exactly what they wanted, 

 while the plea that it was " British grown " did not incline 

 them sufficiently to accept produce that was not to their 

 liking. 



The wholesale traders equally failed to show their 

 patriotism in studying the interests of the British agricul- 

 turist when those interests seemed to conflict with their own 

 business. Failing to make satisfactory arrangements with 

 the salesmen in various wholesale markets, so that produce 

 which could not be disposed of at the depot might be sold on 

 commission, the Association obtained stalls of its own in 

 Covcnt Garden Market and the Central Meat Market ; but 

 once more it was faced with troubles and difficulties. 



In the result heavy losses were sustained. They amounted 

 at times to as much as £250 a week ; and it became evident 

 that failure could not be averted. The original Association 

 — which, it will have been seen, in no degree represented 

 co-operative effort — was dissolved, and a new one took over 

 what was left of the business ; but the idea of having direct 

 dealings with farmers in the country districts was almost 



