780 KEPORT- -1 895. 



society. Such banlcs had been most successful on the Continent, as would be 

 shown in the succeeding paper by Mr. Wolff, but in consequence of legislative 

 difficulties, had only lately been introduced into England. These, however, had 

 been removed by the action of the Agricultural Banks Association, founded in 

 1893. Any interested in starting a co-operative bank in the district with which 

 they are concerned should apply to the Secretary of that Association, Palace 

 Chambers, Westminster, S.W., for a copy of the rules as approved by the 

 Registrar appointed under the Friendly Societies Act, 1875. 



4. Co-operation in the Service of Agriculture. By H. W. Wolff. 



Co-operation seems marked out as one of the methods by which help may be 

 brought to agriculture. The method proposed is not what is usually understood as 

 ■* Co-operative Agriculture,' that is, the joint tenure and exploitation of a holding 

 by a number of men, which does not generally seem to answer, and which promises 

 no relief to farmers in the ordinary sense of the term ; but co-operation in the 

 purchase of farmers' requisites ; in turning farm produce to better account — for 

 instance, milk by means of co-operative dairies ; in practising combined selling, 

 insurance, the disposal of meat in co-operative butcheries, in common work of 

 certain kinds, and in the securing of credit by means of co-operative banks. 

 Instances quoted from home and foreign experience. It was really we who began 

 co-operative agricultural supply. It did not spread as it should have done, 

 apparently from want of money. Now the foreigners have outstripped us. The 

 French agricultural syndicates, started in 1883, have now increased to about 1,500. 

 They have ' democratised ' the use of feeding stutl's and artificial manures. They 

 have achieved success on other ground. The Italian syndicates and co-operation 

 in Germany and Switzerland were then described. The most effective co- 

 operative method thus far applied has been co-operative credit, which is now 

 placiug millions at the command of cultivators, large and small, in Germany, 

 Austria, and in Italy, which is spreading and generally answering very well. The 

 problem to be solved stated. Credit must be granted for long terms and on security, 

 which is not now recognised. It must also be nuide available alike for large 

 farmers and for small cultivators. The credit must be personal. Examples quoted 

 from abroad. Different systems. That of Schulze Delitzsch, of Luzzatti, of 

 Eaiffeisen, and their further adaptations. Applicability of the same principle to 

 England. Village banks for small cultivators, allotment holders, &c. Agricul- 

 tural banks of a different type for larger farmers. Our difficulties and our 

 advantages. On the whole there seems room for this form of co-operation, as there 

 certainly is for the other forms touched upon. There is a want of money among 

 farmers. The new allotment holders certainly will want such help if they are to 

 prosper. The legal difficulties have practically been overcome. Our beginnings 

 seem to warrant expectations of further success. 



TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. 



The following Papers were read : — 



The Prohability of a Cessation of tlie Growth of Population in Eng- 

 land and Wales before 1951. By Edwin Cannan. 



Everyone knows that the population of a country increases when births and 

 immigrants exceed deaths and emigrants, and decreases when deaths and emi- 

 grants exceed births and immigrants, and most people kuow that though emigra- 

 tion and immigration fluctuate greatly, the effects of migration on the population 

 of England, as a whole, are small compared with the effects of births and deaths. 

 But the ordinary citizen does not usually realise the extent to which the deaths of 



