ENGLISH CO-OPERATIVE FARMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22714, 29 October 1935, Page 3

ENGLISH CO-OPERATIVE FARMS

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT HENRY FORD'S ESTATE (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, October 5. The agricultural correspondent of The Times tells of the success of the cooperative farms established by Mr Henry Ford at Boreham, near Chelmsford. Fordson Estates, as they are called, were bought by Mr Ford after he was in England in J 930. The land was not in a high state of fertility, and it was first necessary to restore its capacity to grow full crops by draining, cleaning, and manuring. As sections of the estate were considered to be in a fit state of cultivation, co-operative societies were formed, a start with three sections being made in February, 1934. The results for the first period from February to .December, 1934, showed a profit of f14'53 on the Boreham Hall Farm, £320 on Phillows Farm, and £B2 on Lone Barn. These sums have been distributed to the co-operators, in the proportion that their individual wages bear to the members' total wages. The co-operators draw wages each week in respect, of their work, and such wages are in excess of the minimum agricultural wages laid down by law. Eight of the nieii on the Boreham Hall Farm draw a share of the profits amounting to over £IOO last year. ASTONISHING PRODUCTION. When returns show that the value of the annual output of food from one farm has been raised to £30,000 from about £2OOO before 1931, there seems no limit to the potential output of market garden crops in this country, says the correspondent. Under the previous tenant, who followed mixed farming, seven horses, six men and a boy were employed on 388 acres and about £SOO a year was paid in wages. Under the present system one horse is employed, three tractors, and 14 permanent workers, whose earnings total £3OOO, and, in addition, casual wages amounting to £I4OO were paid for picking and other work during the busy season. Taking the three cooperative groups together, the number of men in permanent employment has more than doubled, and wages, including casual wages and bouuses, have more than quadrupled.