I9.09-] 



Co-operative Societies. 



919 



to the advantages of the undertaking, which is carried on for 

 their mutual benefit, and all should have an equal voice in the 

 management. A joint stock company may be run on similar 

 lines, but there is no guarantee that the company may not 

 in time become primarily a profit-making concern for the 

 benefit of shareholders whose connection with its objects may 

 be remote. Some of the older agricultural supply associations, 

 however, which were registered as joint stock companies, 

 have succeeded in retaining their co-operative character, and 

 particulars of the more important associations of this type 

 are given below. 



Lincolnshire Farmers' Association. — The pioneer of 

 English institutions of this kind was the Lincolnshire Farmers' 

 Association, which was established in 1868 for the purpose, 

 as stated in its rules, "of purchasing genuine phosphatic 

 manures and of supplying the same to its members at cost 

 prices." Originally it comprised merely a few agriculturists 

 in the neighbourhood of Sleaford, whereas the number of 

 members on the roll in 1907 was 2,523, who were occupiers of 

 402,000 acres of land in all parts of the kingdom. The method 

 adopted by the Association is to make contracts in advance 

 for the supply of superphosphate of lime and basic slag. 

 Notice of the price is then sent to each member, who is asked 

 to give his order within a reasonable time. Depots have been 

 established in the different districts, and the manure is supplied 

 carriage paid to the nearest station. Great attention is paid 

 to quality and condition, and numerous samples are taken of 

 the manures supplied. The expenses of carrying on the 

 Association are defrayed by charging an entrance fee of id. 

 per acre on each member's holding and a registration fee of 

 is. per ton on the total quantity supplied, the manure itself 

 being invoiced at cost price. Fertilisers, other than phos- 

 phate and slag, are also dealt in, but no contracts are made. 

 In 1907 the value of the manure supplied was nearly ,£13,000. 

 A balance of about £2,200 has been accumulated, and out of 

 this a bonus of £250 was distributed amongst the members in 

 proportion to their purchases during the past two seasons. 



Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales Farmers' Supply 

 Association. — This Association, which was registered as a 

 joint stock company in 1871, was formed for the purpose of 



