REPORT OF STATE HORTICULTURIST. 7 1 



COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATION. 



G. V. Branch, Bureau of Markets, U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



{Stenographic Report.) 

 Apple Growers of Maine: 



I want to say in reference to my work a few words on co- 

 operation. 



This office has not done much concrete work in the improve- 

 ment of marketing farm products. Lots of the producers have 

 been anxious to see us get in and do something. They would 

 be better pleased if we would knock the props from under the 

 commission men, or discover a method of marketing that has 

 never been heard of before. Now let us explain why we can- 

 not do it. 



I just want to repeat one of the acts, which Congress lays 

 down whenever it makes an appropriation, and the rules as to 

 how that appropriation can be used. It says when they organise 

 it gives $50,000 so that the Secretary of Agriculture can ac- 

 quire and diffuse information on the subject of marketing and 

 distributing of farm products. So you see our work is definitely 

 laid out for us. 



We can't bring pressure to play on a certain set of middle- 

 men, or do anything, in fact, that won't come under the head of 

 securing and diffusing information on the marketing of farm 

 products. Remember in your criticisms the fact that we can't 

 get out from under a certain field of the ofifice. 



I am going to read part of my remarks, because I find the 

 subject of Cooperative Organization such a big one that I 

 could talk almost indefinitely, and then after sitting down, I 

 would find that I had not brought out the points I had intended. 

 There are certain points that I want to bring out in regard 

 to the situation here in Maine, so pardon me if I refer to these 

 written pages. 



