4o 



Farmers' Co-operative Societies. 



dairy associations, one entire cart horse society, and one 

 land association. Many of these bodies have only recently 

 commenced operations ; but as an example of the advantages 

 of co-operation to the small farmer, reference may be made 

 to the published accounts of the work already accomplished 

 by two or three of them. 



The Muskham Agricultural Society ma) r be quoted as an 

 example of an agricultural trading association. This was 

 started in May, l8gg, with 17 members and a share capital of 

 £16. In 1920 the membership had increased to 38, and the 

 turnover amounted to ^365. One of the first steps taken by 

 the society was to purchase a reaper and binder with money 

 borrowed from a bank on the joint personal credit of the 

 committee. The scale of charges for the hire of the machine 

 was fixed by the committee at the rate of 4s. 6d. per acre last 

 year, the society providing twine and a man to take charge of the 

 machine and horses. The result of three seasons' work has 

 been that the society has liquidated the debt to the bank and 

 the machine now belongs to the members, who can avail 

 themselves of the use of it at a nominal charge just 

 sufficient to cover wear and tear. Some of the agricul- 

 tural trading societies are also able to assist in the improve- 

 ment of the live stock kept by small farmers by purchasing 

 or hiring first-class bulls, boars, and stallions. The Tregaron 

 Agricultural Society, a small co-operative body of 50 

 members holding shares ot 5s. each, of which is. 6d. is paid 

 up, has, in addition to its business in manures, cakes and 

 seeds, secured for its members, free of charge, the services of a 

 boar, which is hired out to non-members at a fee of 2s. 6d. 



Among the affiliated dairy societies, mention may be made 

 of the Brandsby Dairy, in Yorkshire, wmich is chiefly engaged 

 in the sale of butter, cream, and cream cheese on behalf of 

 its members, but also undertakes to supply them with 

 manures, feeding stuffs, and other farming requisites. A 

 small warehouse has been rented by this society from 

 the railway company, in which the manures, cake, and other 

 articles purchased in bulk are stored, and from which they 

 are distributed to members as a return-load for their 

 carts which have brought produce to the station. By pur- 



