REPORT OF BUREAU OF MARKETING AND SUPPLIES. 93 



Unclass. Greenings 4.14 



No. I R. Russets 4.28 



Xo. 2 R. Russets 3.58 



No. I Starks 3.95 



No. 2 Starks 3.36 



No. I Hubbardston 3.63 



Unclass. Hubbardston 2.92 



No. I Blue Pearmain 2.92 



No. 2 Blue Pearmain 2.74 



No. I Gilliflowers 2.50 



"Yours faithfully, 



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Cooperative buying and selling is organized buying and sell- 

 ing, the members being left free to specialize in production, 

 their natural field of endeavor, and unite in hiring proficient 

 ability for the above-mentioned purposes. A prime necessity, 

 therefore, is, that the basis of organization should be such as to 

 adequately carry on the work for which it is intended ; should 

 be capable of allowing natural growth of the business, and for 

 this purpose strict attention should be paid to modern business 

 principles and methods. 



While the organizations in this state have been successful in 

 drawing the farmers closer together in their business relations, 

 there is yet much to be accomplished, both in the purchasing of 

 supplies and the disposing of their products. It is much easier 

 to exchange money for goods than it is to find a customer for 

 what you have to sell. One could hardly go wrong this season 

 in the purchase of feeding stufifs and flour, for the market has 

 been of an upward tendency and the results obtained for the 

 past few months should not be taken as an example of what 

 may be expected of changed business conditions, following a 

 reaction of the market. Something, however, seems to be 

 wrong with our cooperative system of sales and distribution ; as 

 the average results do not appear to reflect any marked im- 

 provement on the old system of selling through brokers, and a 

 reorganization or change of policy in our selling system seems 

 inevitable, if we would accomplish in Maine what we desire to 

 accomplish. 



