.310 Agricultural Organisation Society. [aug„ 



Description of the Figures. 



1. Portion of stem of young larch, showing a small canker- 

 wound with the fungus. Natural size. 



2. A small but characteristic canker, with the fruiting fungus 

 present. Natural size. 



3. The two forms of the fruit of the canker fungus. 

 Enlarged. 



4. Dasyscypha resinaria, a fungus, forming canker on the 

 spruce fir. 



5. Portion of a larch branch showing the white flocculent 

 tuft with a central drop of sap, which is constantly to be found 

 near a " foundress " aphis with eggs. Spores of the canker- 

 fungus often germinate in these drops of sap produced by the 

 aphis, and start a canker spot. 



The Board have received a copy of the fourth Report of the 

 Agricultural Organisation Society, from which it appears that 

 the number of affiliated societies at the 

 Report of end of 1904 was 106, as against 73 in 



the Agricultural t ] ie p rev i 0 us year, and 40 in 1902. This 

 Organisation ; , . , , , . . • , . . 



Society. number incluaed 72 societies combining the 



supply of requirements and sale of produce, 



12 dairy societies, 11 co-operative credit banks, two rural 



industry societies, five allotment and small holding societies, one 



cattle auction market, and three miscellaneous societies. 



The movement had spread into 12 new counties, making 

 30 counties in all, and it is estimated that the membership had 

 risen from about 4,500 in 1903 to about 6,500 in 1904. 



During 1904 an Advisory Business Department was estab- 

 lished for the purpose of assisting affiliated societies to buy 

 and sell advantageously. It is not a trading body, but it 

 negotiates with manufacturers of fertilisers, feeding-stuffs, and 

 other agricultural requirements, and with seed merchants, and 

 arranges the terms upon which they will deal with the societies. 

 It obtains quotations for the commodities required by the 

 societies, and advises them which quotations to accept. When 

 asked to do so, it places orders for the societies, but accepts 

 no responsibility for payment of the amount of the orders, and 

 charges no commission for its services. 



