192 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



tion for the average fanner, lies in cooperation. We should, how- 

 ever, have distinctly in mind that cooperation is no panacea for 

 all the ills of marketing the farmers' products, or the products of 

 any other producer ; nor will it solve all the problems of the con- 

 sumer. For example, it will not solve a problem such as that of 

 the producer who lately sent his produce to the Food and Markets 

 Department of the State in 'New York City. There will always 

 be much human nature, the vagaries of the seasons, and our lim- 

 ited knowledge to contend with. 



The further necessity for cooperating for financial gain is 

 founded on the necessities of production. A country or a region 

 entering upon a permanent agriculture is in need of the same 

 elements of production as any other flourishing business, and 

 these include for the farmer long- and short-term credits. It is 

 a fact that in some parts of the countiy certain select classes of 

 farmers, and individual farmers, are as advantageously situated 

 with reference to the meeting of their financial needs as their 

 neighbors in merchandising or manufacturing. These are indi- 

 vidual solutions and may be applied to greater numbers by meet- 

 ing the conditions these men have met. Our troubles are due 

 primarily to the fact that during our long pioneering stage our 

 banking methods developed for the good of the merchant and 

 manufacturer. There can be no doubt that the problem in agri- 

 culture would gradually and naturally solve itself without special 

 interference; and, to be very specific, the money needed by the 

 farmer would be cheaper with time and a permanent, dependable 

 agriculture. If we wish to hasten the solution of this problem 

 and lower the costs we must cooperate and take the matter into 

 our own hands, not waiting for the slower natural evolution. 

 Government aid will be helpful in so far as it gives fundamental 

 and encouraging laws to this end, but it is against all dictates 

 of history and the laws of human nature to expect a permanently 

 satisfactory economic agriculture, able to adjust itself to changing 

 conditions, based on government subsidies. 



If the individuality of the American farmer will so far con- 

 trol his actions in the future that he cannot cooperate with his 

 neighbors, then it seems, with the ever increasing evidence that 

 is brought to our attention, that as a seller of produce he must 



