3§ 



Farmers' Co-operative Societies. 



were produced. The average price paid to members for milk 

 delivered to the societies was 3"84d. per Imperial gallon ; and 

 the net profit on the operations of all the societies, after 

 deducting working expenses, was £12,472. 



The co-operative poultry societies in Ireland have con- 

 fined themselves as a rule to the collection and sale of eggs 

 on behalf of their members, but some of them have recently 

 embarked in the table-poultry trade. They purchase eggs as 

 well as poultry from their members by weight, and the 

 introduction of this practice is said to have had the effect 

 of making poultry - keepers more interested than before 

 in the breed of fowls they keep. 



In every case the price paid for the eggs sold through the 

 societies has been above that obtained before they were 

 started. It is claimed that the societies have accom- 

 plished an incalculable amount of useful work for the 

 poultry industry of Ireland by raising the standard of 

 quality ; by introducing new and improved methods of 

 keeping fowls ; and by procuring for their members birds of 

 serviceable pure breeds. 



In Great Britain the co-operative movement has hithert ) 

 advanced very slowly amongst agriculturists. There are, 

 however, several old-established associations for the joint 

 purchase of manures in England, and a number of similar 

 bodies exist in Scotland. Among the English institutions 

 of this class, one of the oldest is the Lincolnshire Farmers' 

 Association, established in June, 1868, for the purpose of 

 purchasing genuine phosphatic manures of guaranteed 

 quality, and supplying the same to its members at cost 

 price. This society is organised on a strictly co-operative 

 basis : no profit is made on its transactions, and the working 

 expenses are defrayed by an entrance €ee of twopence per 

 acre on the land occupied by each member, and by a fee of 

 one shilling per ton on the goods ordered. All manures are 

 analysed free of cost to the members, and delivered carriage 

 free within a certain area. In 1901 this association 

 distributed 6,400 tons of superphosphate to its members, and 

 its accounts for that year show a turnover of over ,£19,000. 

 It is maintained that by the influence of the Lincolnshire 



