AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES 237 



on the same rating paid quarterly. This was an insurance society 

 to provide compensation in case of death among their animals. No 

 farmer, where a known infectious disease existed on his farm, was 

 allowed to join. Strict rules were drawn up, one of them being that 

 three members of the committee had to view any animal which was 

 sick in order to fix its value. 



In 1865, owing to the cattle plague scare, the total membership 

 increased to eighty ; for the last 16 years |d. in the £ on the county 

 rating had covered all losses, but now, in the case of loss of cattle from 

 any contagious disease, the owner was only to receive three-quarter 

 value. The business of the association was conducted by the treasurer 

 and secretary and a committee of two members from each township. 

 An increased rate was to be levied till the funds exceed £500. This 

 association ceased to exist many years ago. 



The Vale of Eden Agricultural Co-operative Society was formed 

 in 1873. At the first general meeting, held at Appleby in June in the 

 following year, it was reported that there were over 100 members, 

 and that after paying all preliminary and other expenses there was 

 a balance of nearly £50 in hand. £3,550 had been expended on manures, 

 seeds, and feeding stuffs during the first year's working. By 18S0 

 the operations of the Society had greatly increased, the turnover in 

 that year being manures £3,108, feeding stuffs £2,585, and seeds £290. 



For the year ending December 31st, 1911, the total amount of 

 feeding stuffs, manures, and seeds sold was £2,761 19s. 5d., showing 

 a gross profit of £235 19s. 5d., and a net profit of £43 los. 6d., out of 

 which a dividend of 4 per cent, was paid which absorbed £18 3s., the 

 balance going to the reserve fund, which totalled £174 6s. 3d. The 

 ofl&cers of the management committee are : Wm. Dent, Bolton, chair- 

 man ; Ed. Thompson, Long Marton, vice-chairman ; and J. W. 

 Sisson, Temple Sowerby, secretary and treasurer. 



The Cumberland and Westmorland Chamber of Agriculture was 

 formed in 1893, and in 1897 it was decided to disband the Penrith 

 Farmers' Club, which was founded in 1851, and join forces with the 

 newly formed Chamber. At the time this took place H. C. Howard 

 was chairman and W. R. Mounsey, secretary of the club. The 

 principal papers read before the club were printed and circulated 

 among the members in 1864. 



