630 Agricultural Mechanics in Belgium, [jan., 



The paid-up share capital of the Society was £97 S- Land 

 was acquired and a market constructed at a total cost of £1,427, 

 the Society raising a mortgage of ^400 upon the land. After 

 paying interest on the mortgage and share capital and other 

 charges the Society made a net profit of £100 19s., the greater 

 portion of which was distributed amongst the members as a 

 bonus upon their sales through the Society. 



A scheme is on foot for the establishment of a similar co- 

 operative auction market at Winchester. 



Another form of co-operation which might be taken up by 

 agricultural co-operative societies is its application to the im- 

 provement of live stock. Very few societies have as yet done 

 anything in this direction. 



The Buckingham Agricultural Trading Association has made 

 an arrangement with the owner of a Shire stallion, whereby the 

 horse shall be at the service of any member for his mares, at 

 £1 5s. per mare, instead of the usual fee of £2 2s. All such 

 mares are booked and paid for by the Association, which collects 

 the service fees from the members, deducting a commission of 

 2| per cent, for doing so. 



The Lledrod Agricultural Society, Cardiganshire, has adopted 

 a different system. The Society has not, as a society, under- 

 taken the improvement of stock, but groups of eight, ten or 

 twelve members have been formed to purchase bulls. A service 

 fee of IS. is charged to those who shared in the cost of the bull ; 

 to others a charge of 2s. 6d. is made. When the bull is sold, 

 each of the contributing members receives back what he paid, 

 and if there is any profit, it is handed over to the member by 

 whom the bull was kept. 



Several co-operative allotment societies have been formed 

 which hire land direct and let it out to their members. 



A School of Agricultural Mechanics has been in existence 

 during the past four years at Mons, in Belgium, where theoretical 

 and practical instruction in the mainte- 

 School of Ag^ri- ^ance and repair of agricultural machines is 

 cultural Mechanics . u • ui i -^u r • 



in Belgium. given to mechanics, blacksmiths, tamers, 



&c. In country districts these local arti- 

 ficers are the only resource for the repair 'of the complicated 



