Seventy-Third Annual Report 1279 



country, but is due, in my opinion, to a consistent perpetuation of 

 individualism in farming operations which characterize the farm- 

 ing industry of the United States. 



This is a day of cooperation and combination. That industry 

 which does not cooperate for mutual protection and advance- 

 ment of its interests, will become the stepping stone for the de- 

 velopment of other interests which are more progressive and 

 actuated by methods of twentieth century American ideals. 



The continued perpetuation of the antiquated system of agri- 

 cultural individualism in America, forces the farmers to till the 

 soil, reap the harvests and deliver the products of their labor at 

 the doors of commerce, receiving as compensation such prices or 

 remuneration as the representative buying interests of the 

 country may determine upon. With no rights or recognition in 

 the markets, with only the privilege of tilling their soils and the 

 cooperation of nature and providence, the great wealth of the 

 fields and farms for the past half century, have gone to the en- 

 richment and development principally of the large and small 

 market centers of the country. 



The city and urban population has progressed by leaps and 

 bounds, at the expense of the rural population, and this condi- 

 tion will continue so long as individualism exists in our farming 

 operations, and cooperative effort constitutes the methods of action 

 in commercial life. In verification of this statement, I wish to 

 say, that between 1900 and 1910, the urban population of the 

 United States increased 35 per cent., while the rural population 

 increased only 11 per cent. 



There must be developed a system of sound, business coopera- 

 tion among the varied agricultural interests in this country, if 

 anv satisfactorv remedv to existing conditions is to be found and 

 put into practical operation. 



CONDITIONS IN NEW YORK STATE 



There must be a cause for every effect. Let us look for a mo- 

 ment at the condition of affairs in this state in connection with 

 agriculture. 



You have a state the population of which totals closely to ten 

 million inhabitants, eight million in your towns and cities, and 

 two millon in your rural sections. 



