Co-operation in Holland. 



379 



cross of Shropshire rams on a Merino ewe foundation, twins- 

 being the normal increase for ewes of the mutton type. 



It was also noticed that one-year-old rams were not so prolific 

 as those of two or three years old. Ewes also averaged a larger 

 percentage of increase, in lambs after they reached full maturity 

 at three years of age until after they were six years old, when 

 the rate of increase diminished. The amount of service required, 

 of the ram in breeding seems to have an influence on the per- 

 centage increase in offspring of the ewes that produce lambs.. 

 Ewes bred early in the season of mating to a single ram dropped 

 a larger percentage of lambs than those near the latter end of 

 the season. 



Co-operation Amongst Dutch Market Gardeners. 



An interesting feature of the Dutch market gardening industry 

 is the great extent to which co-operative principles have been 

 applied to the 1 sale of vegetables and fruit. All over North 

 Holland the small market gardeners have formed societies for 

 the joint sale of their produce, and in some districts they have 

 erected their own auction halls. One of the largest of these 

 associations is that known as the " Westland." 



The Westland -is a district between the Hacrue and Leidem 

 which is given up almost entirely to fruit-growing and market gar- 

 dening. The usual size of the holdings is about five acres, though 

 a few run to ten acres and upwards. Rents are high, averaging 

 about ios. per acre,and when there are glass-houses erected by 

 the owner the gardener pays 5 to 8 per cent, yearly on the cost of 

 erection. A shortdescription of a market garden of 10 acres visited 

 at Poldijk may serve as an example of the conditions existing 

 in the Westland. In this case the occupier pays £$ 17s. per acre 

 rent, and he has 10 glass-houses on his holding, for which he pays 

 5 to 7 per cent, on the cost of erection. These glass-houses cost 

 1 5s. 4d. to 17s. iod. per lineal foot to build, or when built against 

 a wall, as is frequently the case, from ios. to 12s. 4d. per foot. 

 There is a polder tax of 13s. per acre on this holding, and the 

 occupier also pays income tax. The soil is a clay loam, which 



