AGRICULTURAL AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



Co-operation in the Irish Poultry and Egg I 

 Industry. 



A scheme has been drafted by the Irish Organisation 

 Society for the formation of poultry-rearing associations on a 

 co-operative basis in the rural districts of Ireland. As a 

 preliminary step, a special organiser and instructor has been 

 appointed to afford advice and assistance to existing dairy 

 and agricultural societies desirous of taking up the poultry 

 and egg industry as a branch of their business, as well as to 

 committees formed in districts where it is proposed to 

 establish poultry societies on co-operative lines. The system 

 of organisation of new centres explained in the draft 

 scheme is interesting. After a provisional committee has 

 been formed, if the locality appears to be one suitable for the 

 establishment of a society, a convenient centre will be 

 selected for its headquarters. It is considered advisable, in 

 districts where a co-operative agricultural or dairy society 

 desires to take up poultry rearing, to establish a separate 

 association for the latter business in order to secure the 

 co-operation of the poorest classes by fixing a very low share 

 qualification, and also, if possible, to enable female members 

 to serve on the committees, which they rarely do in the 

 existing societies. 



All the business of the poultry society would be transacted 

 from the centre, which would be placed in charge of a man 

 or woman thoroughly experienced in all branches of the 

 industry. The committee would hold its meetings there at 

 least once a week, and supervise the working of the society. 

 The centre selected would be fully equipped as a poultry 

 farm, with one or more acres of land, and suitable buildings 



