92 



Co-operative Breeding of Stock. 



Agriculturists can, however, do much in this direction, as in 

 so many others, by adopting a form of co-operation which has 

 proved very successful abroad, and which has, within the past 

 few years, been adopted with equally satisfactory results by two 

 or three agricultural societies in this country. It consists simply 

 in combining for the joint purchase and ownership of pure-bred 

 bulls or other animals, which are then hired out at a very 

 moderate fee among the farmers joining such a combination. 

 Or the improvement of stock may be taken up by any ordinary 

 agricultural society purchasing one or more bulls for the use of 

 its members. If the sires are hired out to persons other than 

 members of the society, at an enhanced fee, the net expense of 

 procuring and keeping the animal is naturally much reduced. 



This form of co-operation has now been adopted by at least 

 two English societies,* viz., the Northumberland Agricultural 

 Society and the Leek and District Agricultural and Horticul- 

 tural Society ; and their rules may conveniently be taken as 

 illustrating the practical working of the scheme. The following 

 are the regulations of the Northumberland Agricultural Society 

 for the use of their pure-bred bulls : — 



" Inclusive fees to be paid at first service to the party who has 

 charge of the bull : — 



" By members of the society ... 4s. each cow 

 " By non-members ... ... 10s. „ 



" By agricultural occupiers whose 

 annual rental does not exceed 

 ^"50; hinds or shepherds ... 4s. „ 



" No cow will be served by any of the society's bulls that has 

 been served by any other bull within six weeks previously. 



41 The total number of cows that may be served in any one 

 year by any of the society's bulls is limited to 70, of which not 

 more than eight are to be the property of one owner, other than 

 the party who has charge of the bull for the time being. 



" The party who keeps a bull has no claim or preference in 

 the purchase of calves. 



* The Board are indebted to the Secretaries of these two societies for copies of 

 their rules, and for the other particulars kindly furnished concerning their working. 



