n8 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



Carmarthen, Cardigan and Pembroke sent in August, 1902, 

 a deputation of 18 delegates to Ireland, where nine counties 

 were visited and close enquiry was made into the working of 

 agricultural co-operation there. The Secretary of the A. O. S. 

 accompanied the deputation, and helped in organising the 

 tour. The Irish Agricultural Organisation Society also gave 

 a good deal of assistance. Much of the success of the tour 

 was due to the untiring efforts of the hon. secretary, 

 Mr. H. Jones-Davies. 



In a report subsequently presented for the consideration 

 of their respective County Councils the delegates placed 

 on record their conviction " that the principles of agricul- 

 tural co-operation, as established on the model of several 

 European countries, and as successfully applied in Ireland, are 

 eminently adapted to further the present condition of agri- 

 culture in west Wales, and that their adoption is highly 

 desirable in the farming interest." The delegates thought 

 the comparative failure of the butter factories hitherto 

 established in that part of Wales was mainly attributable 

 to the fact that the elementary principles of agricultural 

 co-operation had not been applied to their formation and 

 subsequent conduct, and they made a long series of recom- 

 mendations to their Councils with a view to securing the 

 dissemination of these principles in the general interest of 

 agricultural industries in their districts. 



The example set by those of the English and Welsh County 

 Councils which had taken up the teaching of the principles 

 and practice of agricultural co-operation was speedily fol- 

 lowed in Ireland, so that in this respect, at least, England led 

 the way. County Councils were, indeed, finding that agri- 

 cultural co-operation was but the logical outcome and 

 practical application of such agricultural instruction as they 

 were already, in many instances, so actively engaged in 

 imparting. The position was put very clearly by one of the 

 County Council instructors in Ireland, who said : — " When 

 farmers have been taught by lecturers and experts every- 

 thing they can teach them about artificial manures, farm 

 seeds, and feeding stuffs, the farmers naturally want to be 



