When the Scottish Co-operative Farming Association was formed the Baking Society took a keen interest in it, and for such products as were of use to it was always a good customer. At a later date in the history of the association an overdraft of £200 was granted. Unfortunately, from causes which were fairly obvious, the Association, after some years of fair success, fell on evil days, and during the period with which this chapter deals the committee approached the Baking Society to take one of the farms rented by the Association. The board of the Baking Society viewed the idea with favour, believing that a farm would be a useful auxiliary to their distributive department, while it would be to the advantage of the movement if the Farming Association could be preserved from collapse; and when the question was brought before the general meeting of the Society the majority of the delegates were also in favour of the scheme, and gave full power to the committee to proceed. Thus armed with full powers the members of the committee were wise enough to take expert advice before committing themselves definitely, and delegated two practical farmers to examine the farm and report. The reports presented by these gentlemen were unanimous, and were to the effect that the farm was very badly drained and in poor condition; the rent was too high, and it could not be made to pay either as a cropping or as a dairy farm. As a result of this report, and in view of the fact that inside two months the Farming Association went into liquidation, it was decided to have nothing more to do with the proposal. The Society had still some further trouble to face in connection with the Association however. A large quantity of hay had been bought and paid for, to be delivered as required, but when the liquidators came to examine the stock on the farm they claimed this hay as part of the assets of the Association, and a considerable amount of negotiation took place before the matter was settled. The final result was that, by the failure of the Association, the Federation lost £346, 14s. 7d. ACCIDENTS.