Seventv-Tiiikd Annual Kepokt 1171 



the farmer at its doors ? " The answer to these questions, in my 

 judgment, is twofold. First, the ordinary Westchester Comity 

 farmer, like most other farmers throughout the East, buys at 

 retail and sells at wholesale. The second reason is that, under 

 modern conditions, the wholesale market is open to the farmer 

 only upon terms which place him wholly at the mercy of com- 

 mission men. I suspect that these answers explain the diffi- 

 culty of profitable farming in many parts of the State of ISTew 

 York, as well as in Westchester County. Both of these conditions 

 can be changed, the first by cooperation, the second by licensing 

 commission men. 



In my observation, the ordinary farmer has much to learn be- 

 fore he can succeed, even with such improvement as is possible 

 in the conditions to which I have referred. The late Dr. Knapp, 

 of the United States Agricultural Department, used to say that 

 " farming is one part science, three parts art, and four parts 

 business." The ordinary farmer would do well to increase his 

 knowledge of the science of farming to say nothing of the art. 

 On the side of business management he needs help if he is to 

 succeed; for, to succeed in farming it is' not enough to produce. 

 One must be able both to produce economically and to sell ad- 

 vantageously. It is precisely here that cooperation is so im- 

 portant for the farmer; for cooperation ought to do for the 

 small farmer precisely what he cannot do for himself. It 

 ought to give him expert information as to the best crops to 

 raise and hov/ to raise them; it ought to enable him to buy 

 what he needs more cheaply, and to sell what he produces to 

 better advantage ; it ought to be able to help him to keep accounts, 

 so that he can detect waste and learn how to improve his methods. 

 In a word, it ought to do for him just what he cannot do well 

 for himself. 



In my judgment, cooperation will spell success for the Ameri- 

 can farmer, in the older parts of the country, precisely as it has 

 spelled success for the farmers of Denmark, and other continental 

 countries. It is the only method by which farmers can reverse 

 the practice to which I have alluded, of buying at retail and 

 selling at wholesale. Through a cooperative society, well con- 

 ducted, a farmer can buy at wholesale and sell at retail ; or, if he 



