571 



A USEFUL example of the value of co-operation for small 

 cultivators and poultry keepers is afforded by the Society 

 Warmle and ^'^^^^^^^'^^ ^^^e Warmley and District 

 ■Ti' * • 1. All I. Allotments, Ltd. The Society was estah- 



DlStriCt Allot- XT , -inm i. • 1 



ments: Village November, 1919, its origmal 



Co * eration <^bjects being to help members to obtain 



• i^i L V land for allotments, to arrange for lectures, 

 in Gloucestersnire. ^ , , , . , n • i • 



and to obtam expert advice on gardening. 



The allotments have been obtained through the Parish Council 

 and the lectures and advice have been given by the County 

 Organiser and his staff. 



The Society joined the Bristol and District Small Holdings 

 and Allotments Federation, Ltd., and also became affiliated to 

 the Agricultural Organisation Society. The Federation advised 

 as to land suitable for allotments and in the first year provided 

 seed potatoes through its system of collective purchase. 



The Society started with 19 members and there are now 183. 

 The subscription is one shilling per annum. Trading is done on 

 a basis of 5 per cent, profit, and was started by buying seed 

 potatoes with the object of securing reliable Scotch seed, true 

 to type and at the low^est rates. The Bristol Federation booked 

 the Society's order in November, 1919, which was fortunate, 

 as in the spring of 1920 supplies w^ere unobtainable and the 

 first year's dealings with seed potatoes proved very successful, 

 but the second year, however, the Society received a severe 

 set-back: it purchased on its own account seed potatoes from 

 Scotland in October when prices were high, the general belief 

 being that, as in the previous vear, supplies would not be 

 obtainable later. There was a heavy drop in prices before 

 delivery, and two tons of the seed potatoes proved to be dis- 

 eased. There was a loss of ^50 on this purchase, whicli \\as a 

 very severe blow to this small Society. 



After the first year's successful trading in potatoes, the 

 jwultry keepers urged the Society to supply them with food. 

 In April, therefore, a start was made by buying meals and 

 grains direct from the mills, and it was found that the members 

 could be supplied at a saving of 10 per cent, on the prices then 

 obtaining locally, though the local prices quickly dropped in 

 sympathy. This brought in many new^ adherents to the 

 Society, and the supply of foodstuffs is now the biggest part of 

 its trade. The total turnover last year was £824 lis. 9d. 



Courses of lectures are arranged to cover the wintei' months, 

 and the Conntv Instructors visit the members' orardens, allot- 



