At this point it may be interesting to note some particulars of the Co-operative baking societies in existence in Scotland in 1866, as taken from the returns sent in to the Registrar of Friendly Societies in Scotland. It is probable that the list is far from complete, and it takes no account of the societies having bakeries of their own who dealt in other goods as well. These societies were:— Value of Property. Profits. Airdrie Bread No property. £252 Alva Baking £l,184 331 Bainsford and Grahamston 1,484 788 Coatbridge Bread 857 466 Dalry Baking 20 50 Dunfermline Baking 116 493 Edinburgh Bread 422 271 Leven Baking 200 120 Roslin Baking — 82 Stenhousemuir Baking 782 350 A notable absentee from the above list is the name of Kingskettle Baking Society. THE FIRST FEDERATED BAKERY. As it was in Ayrshire, in the little village of Fenwick, that, so far as is known, the first Co-operative society was established, so also to Ayrshire belongs the honour of having established the first federated bakery. Co-operation in Fenwick had died in 1801 with the demise of the old Meal Society, and it was not until 1840, when Darvel Industrial Society was founded, that it again secured a footing in the land of Burns. The society founded 79 years ago continues to flourish, but for the first twenty years it had to flourish alone. Then, in 1860, Kilmarnock Society was founded, and following it there came in quick succession Crosshouse, Auchinleck, Mauchline, Galston, Newmilns, and Catrine. In 1867 five of these societies—Kilmarnock, Crosshouse, Galston, Mauchline, and Newmilns—combined to form a baking society, while three other societies—Troon, Catrine, and Darvel—although not members, took bread from the federation. In 1870 premises were built for the federation, and the trade increased steadily. Gradually, however, the more distant societies began to erect bakeries of their own, and in the early ’nineties of last century the bakery was taken over by Kilmarnock Society, who erected a new and up-to-date bakery for themselves on the site of the old one. [Illustration: COBURG STREET PREMISES ] [Illustration: ST JAMES STREET PREMISES ] [Illustration: M‘NEIL STREET PREMISES (1886–1890) ] [Illustration: M‘NEIL STREET PREMISES (1890–1894) ] CHAPTER III. THE FIRST YEAR.