88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In addition to this suggestion for practical cooperation in carrying 

 products to market, we will venture another suggestion in regard to 

 sale. In every city or large village, and perhaps at every or nearly 

 every seaport town and railroad station, we believe it would be a 

 practical thing to establish a cooperative store for sale of farm prod- 

 ucts and purchase of farm supplies and farm implements — a store 

 and storehouse of good capacity that should receive the products of 

 the farmers and distribute them to consumers, or ship them to the 

 best markets elsewhere, and conduct business generally on the best 

 business principles. 



These ideas are given to set us thinking. An hour's hard think- 

 ing sometimes is more profitable than a day's work. We have pre- 

 sented these few plans for 3'ou to consider. Some of them ma}' 

 seem wild and chimerical. Some of them may not be new to you. 

 We believe them capable of being carried out to profit. The world's 

 ways are changing. Old things pass away or become new. Old 

 matter takes new forms. The farmer's old rubber boots of this year 

 may come back next in the shape of ju-jube paste, or "goody, goody 

 gum drops, ten cents a pound." And you will find them on sale at 

 the fairs everywhere. 



We believe it to be a plain and indisputable fact that the greatest 

 need among farmers to-day is the need of more practical coopera- 

 tion. It would be of great use to any section of our State. This 

 subject calls for thought and study. It calls for investigation. It 

 opens up the most promising field for saving and for profit. We 

 must learn the value of the fact that a dollar saved is just as good 

 as a dollar earned. The old axiom puts it stronger than this even — 

 "A penn}^ saved is as good as two pence earned." We are not 

 always sure of getting what we earn. Sometimes it costs consider- 

 able to collect after earning. Economy is the best adaptation of 

 means to ends. Good management lies at the bottom of success. 

 Farmers should study to learn the purchasing power of mone}', and 

 that a dollar in their hands has just the same value, just the same 

 power, just the same trade value, as it has in anybody's hands when 

 handled with the same ability, care and understanding. 



One hundred dollars in the hands of a farmer has just the same 

 purchasing power that it has in the hands of the shrewdest trader. 

 The secret lies in the handling. Take the best ammunition in the 

 world and the best fire-arms made, place them in the hands of the 

 ignorant and unskilled marksman and very poor shots will be made. 



