Farmers' Co-operative Societies. 



4i 



chasing in truck-loads and relieving- the dealer of the risk of 

 bad debts and the trouble of collecting small sums of money 

 from a number of individual buyers, this society has been 

 able to obtain reduced quotations by which every member has 

 benefited, however small his purchase. The balance-sheet of 

 the Brandsby Dairy Society for the half-year to January 31st 

 last shows a turnover of £1,728 and a profit of £46 after 

 allowing £24. for depreciation. 



The local societies affiliated to the Agricultural Organisa- 

 tion Society are registered under the Industrial and Provident 

 Societies' Act, and can therefore sue and be sued as corporate 

 bodies. 



The foregoing- examples are sufficient to afford some idea 

 of the directions in which farmers, and particularly occupiers 

 of small holdings, can effectively combine to their mutual 

 advantage. Hitherto the Agricultural Organisation Society* 

 has been working single-handed to encourage and assist 

 such combination, but its efforts can now be seconded by 

 County Councils in rural districts where co-operation is likely 

 to be useful, as the Board of Education are prepared to 

 sanction the teaching of the principles and practice of 

 agricultural co-operation in the case of all County Councils 

 which may make application to them in terms of Section 8 of 

 the Technical Instruction Act, 1889, with are presentation that 

 such a form of instruction is required by the circumstances 

 of the district. 



* The secretary of the Agricultural Organisation Society, Dacre House, Dacre 

 Street, Westminster, to whom the Board are indebted for assistance in the prepara- 

 tion of this article, will be pleased to furnish information and afford advice to 

 persons interested in the formation of agricultural co-operative societies. 



