196 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



In Other words, I think that the word "cooperation" is em- 

 braced in a i^rcater thing, a more noble motive, that which 

 teaches us our dependence upon each other, and more than 

 that, the Brotherhood of Man. It is our task to produce the 

 best that we can and offer it to the consumer, and already he 

 is stretching out his hand towards us and nobly endeavoring 

 to assist us in producing and to meet us half way in the con- 

 sumption of that article, and to encourage us to produce it 

 better and in larger quantities. The question that isi interesting 

 the consumer today is not how much we shall produce, but he 

 is saying, "Give us more of these products of Mother Earth 

 that we may enjoy them to the fullest extent, that we may take 

 them with us to the cities where our labors exist and there 

 partake of the same bounty which you upon the farms are 

 partaking of." In the past the farmer's first thought was to 

 produce simply enough for his family. If there was any sur- 

 plus he took it to market. That time is past. When 25 per 

 cent of our population are engaged in production, it means 

 that the other 75 per cent are dependent upon the surplus 

 which we produce. Therefore let us as the representatives of 

 this association meet the consumers half way with a fraternal 

 hand, and meet them with this idea, — that in the future we 

 will extend to them the same hearty cooperation, the same feel- 

 ing of the universal brotherhood of man which they extend to 

 us ; that we will give them a bushel of oats without any char- 

 lock; that we will give them a bushel of potatoes without any 

 scab, and that will weigh 62 pounds; and that we will give 

 them a barrel of apples that shall be No. i from the facers to 

 the bottom. Let us extend to them this feeling and we shall 

 have no cause in the future to regret that we are doing our 

 part nobly in feeding the world. 



