STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 25 



will reach possibly the enormous total of $800,000,000. Indeed 

 it would not surprise me in the least if the total amounted to 

 a billion. 



The scattered occurrence of cooperation in the United States 

 is responsible for the impression that cooperative activity is not 

 extensive. The large aggregate value of products handled dis- 

 poses effectively of any idea that cooperation is rare in the 

 United States relative to other countries. It is merely unde- 

 veloped so far as the opportunities within our own country are 

 concerned. 



The two greatest prdblems in the success of cooperative or- 

 ganizations are competent management and the keeping up of 

 that keen interest and the securing of that active participa- 

 tion of members which is essential to success and without which 

 no true gain for country life will have been secured. An or- 

 ganization that is successful in its handling of these two mat- 

 ters is practically sure to meet with general success. 



Cooperation cannot be foisted upon the people by outsid-e 

 agencies. The desire for it must either be occasioned by diffi- 

 culties in marketing or other farm activities or must be culti- 

 vated by education as to the benefits to be obtained. We must 

 appeal in this country to the intelligence of our farmers more 

 than to their necessities. The economies to be effected justify 

 a certain degree of government assistance and encouragement. 



It is our purpose to make a thorough-going study of existing 

 marketing, distributing and purchasing organizations, and where 

 conditions warrant, to aid so far as the authority of the Depart- 

 ment permits in the establishment of new organizations. We 

 will aim to make the office a sort of clearing house for coopera- 

 tive marketing information of interest to both associations of 

 producers and consumers. This work will be carried on in 

 close cooperation with the Rural Organization Service, of 

 which Dr. T. N. Carver is the Director. In cooperation with the 

 Office of the Solicitor, a careful study of the laws of the dif- 

 ferent states under which cooperative enterprises must operate 

 will be made. Drafts of constitutions and by-laws suitable for 

 different farming industries which will enable them to organize 

 and operate with efficiency will be prepared. Systems of ac- 

 counting and auditing for cooperative associations will be de- 

 vised and the information obtained will be made available 

 through publication of bulletins and otherwise. 



