no AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



a society was projected. On the other hand the societies 

 had had to meet " a most powerful trade opposition," and 

 it was thought better to establish firmly and consolidate the 

 societies already existing in Wales rather than respond too 

 eagerly to the requests daily coming to hand for the forma- 

 tion of new societies. 



One further result of the work in Wales that might be 

 mentioned was the remarkable change in the quality of the 

 seeds, fertilisers, etc., supplied to the districts where the 

 agricultural co-operative societies had been in operation for 

 any length of time. In the days prior to organisation as an 

 active force in agriculture, Wales and Ireland were alike the 

 common dumping grounds for the refuse and the " cleanings" 

 of seeds and for the poorest qualities of fertilisers from 

 England and Scotland ; but the tests, analyses or guarantees 

 instituted or insisted on by the societies, together with the 

 rejection of inferior supplies, led to changes in methods from 

 which farmers outside the organisation movement benefited 

 — as they are doing to a still greater degree to-day — no less 

 than those who had given it their support. 1 



Advantages of the New Organisation. 



These examples may serve to illustrate the general lines 

 on which the Society started its operations. There was 

 already in existence a considerable range of societies which 

 had been formed (as distinct from commercial undertakings) 

 to promote in various ways the interests of agriculture, 

 horticulture and allied industries, but none of them fulfilled 

 the same purpose in enabling the British farmer to (i) pro- 

 duce to the best advantage ; (2) transport to the best 

 advantage ; and (3) sell to the best advantage. The Society 

 took up the practical side of agriculture just where the 



1 In the gardens of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, there 

 is an experimental plot which gives a practical illustration of the result of 

 using so-called " grass " seeds consisting mainly of cleanings. In one sec- 

 tion, planted with cock's-foot grass, the crop produced included wild 

 geraniums, thistles and several turnips. In another section the sheep's 

 fercue grass, which should alone have been seen, was almost entirely 

 obscured by an abundant growth of thistles, plantain, mustard, ox-eyed 

 daisy, hawk weed and medick. 



