EVOLUTION OF THE A.O.S. 109 



" highly-graded produce, of which the dealer can be assured 

 a continuous supply of a uniform quality, will command a 

 considerably higher price in the market than mixed produce, 

 however good ; and as no one man can possibly pack and 

 grade the crop of his own place, unless he is a very large 

 grower, co-operation offers the true means of competing with 

 foreign products." 



Progress in Wales. 



The report for the same year (1902) shows that " remark- 

 able progress " had been made in Wales. There were then 

 in the Principality eleven co-operative agricultural societies, 

 most of which had been formed mainly for the co-operative 

 purchase of agricultural requirements. Four had directed 

 their attention to live stock improvement, procuring pedigree 

 bulls and boars, and others, which had sought to organise 

 collective sale, had been successful in combating a " ring ' 

 among the poultry salesmen. One society, not registered 

 until February, 1902, had nearly 400 members by the end 

 of the year, had had a turnover of £1,600 and had made a 

 profit of £200 in dealing with fertilisers, seeds, etc., though 

 it had done so in face of the keenest competition ; and 

 it had just taken over from a local dealer some premises 

 which contained a gas engine and a mill for grinding maize, 

 barley, etc. A store-keeper had been appointed, a trade 

 agent was to be engaged to act as an organising secretary, 

 a weekly pig market was to be started ; a comprehensive 

 live stock improvement scheme was being planned ; the 

 store already mentioned was to be further used as an egg- 

 collecting depot ; and steps were being taken to improve the 

 breed of members' poultry, a stock of the best winter-laying 

 birds having already been obtained. The other societies 

 were operating more or less on similar lines, and it was 

 reported in regard to the general movement in Wales that, 

 by the formation of these societies, a saving of from 20 to 

 25 per cent, had resulted to the farmers who were members 

 of them, while a further effect had been experienced in the 

 bringing down of prices all round wherever the starting of 



