82 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Some states have a law that fosters cooperation in that it is 

 possible to organize a nonprofit business enterprise under a 

 special cooperative law, while in others it is necessary for the 

 association to be chartered under the regular state corporation 

 law in which case considerable difficulty is experienced in con- 

 ducting the business on strictly cooperative lines. Various 

 states, however, are realizing the necessity for a law which will 

 allow the formation of farmers' organizations along strict coop- 

 erative lines and each year sees the passage of new laws per- 

 mitting the formation of these organizations. By being char- 

 tered under the state laws members and the association are 

 protected by limiting their respective powers, duties and respon- 

 sibilities. 



The plan of operation must be suited to the local conditions 

 and the mere fact that a certain plan has been successfully 

 applied in one section does not warrant the conclusion that it 

 can be copied for some other, as the conditions may be entirely 

 different. It is far more practicable to mold the organization 

 to fit the circumstances. The products to be handled, the loca- 

 tion of markets, the functions to be performed, and the char- 

 acter of the farmers to be organized, are important determining 

 factors that must have serious consideration in the plans adopted. 



CAPABLE MANAGEMENT. 



One of the most important essentials for success is capable 

 management. The man placed in charge of a cooperative organ- 

 ization should not only have had experience, but he must be 

 intelligent, diligent and of good judgment, with tact and ability 

 for keeping alive the enthusiasm, interest and cooperation of 

 the members. Inefficient management has been responsible for 

 a great many of the failures of cooperative organizations. The 

 manager should be employed by the board of directors and 

 should have power to employ and discharge labor and secure 

 information as to crop and market conditions, furnishing the 

 same to the members upon request. He should encourage pro- 

 duction of the best varieties of products demanded by the trade 

 and aid the growers in every way possible, bringing up the 

 standard of their products to the highest point. He should 

 enter in to contracts for the sale of all association goods and 

 should have entire charge of the marketing of the same, sub- 



