Friendly Societies, State Action, and the Poor-laic. 
153 
mentalist ; but a private trial-ground of a few perches could 
never prove a costly undertaking, and if devoted to a test for 
new plants and improved pedigree varieties of old ones, would 
be sure to prove a good investment by enriching the mind in 
knowledge, if in nothing else. 
Nor must it be forgotten that an adverse opinion against the 
claims of plants not commonly cultivated has often been im- 
bibed, owing to inferior or spurious varieties having been tried, 
an evil probably of more frequent occurrence than is generally 
supposed. There are several different sorts of thousand-headed 
kale, and the Jersey tree-cabbage is so much like some of them 
in everything but running up a stout stalk before developing 
branches and heads, that an unprincipled dealer in seeds might 
often palm off his old stock when the true kale seed is inquired 
for. There are also various kinds of comfrey, the solid-stem 
prickly member of the family being accounted the best, while 
as for the cabbages, their name is legion. Obviously, then, 
whenever any of the kinds of plants not commonly cultivated 
are about to be adopted, either for trial or regular cultivation, 
the wisdom of going to a leading seed-house for seeds, or to a 
propagator or nurseryman of well-established reputation for sets, 
seems fully apparent. Only by taking that course would the 
generality of farmers be able to make sure of obtaining the 
true varieties required. 
V. — Friendly Societies, State Action, and the Poor-law. By the 
Rev. J. Y. Stratton, Rector of Ditton, Kent. 
Among the efforts which have been made of late years for the 
improvement of farm and other labourers of the wages-earning 
class in this country, none appear to have made less sub- 
stantial progress than trustworthy Benefit Societies suited to 
their need. It is now nearly twelve years ago that, through 
the efforts of a small Committee,* a Commission of Inquiry 
into Friendly and Benefit Societies was obtained. By means of 
this Commission, of which Sir Stafford Northcote was the 
Chairman, a mass of evidence was taken, and a series of Reports, 
* The Friendly Societies' Committee originally consisted of the late Earl of 
Komney,the Earl of Lichfield, the Hon. E. Stanhope, M.P., the Yen. Archdeacon 
<Jrant, J. Bonham Carter, Esq., M.P., W. Wells, Esq., M.P., L. S. Corrance, Esq., 
M.P., the late E. M. Richards, Esq., M.P., J. G. Talbot, Esq., M.P., the late 
Hon. and Eev. Samuel Best, Wyndham S. Portal, Esq., and the Rev. ,T. Y. 
Stratton. The Committee has been reconstituted, for the purpose of obtaining 
Statu action. Objects — (1) The bearing of the Poor-law on Friendly Societies ; 
(iJ) Suggestions for legislation ; and (3) Measures for carrying them into cfieot. 
