180 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



are now in manuscript form and will be issued, as two bulletins of 

 the department. The first treats of the organization of the ex- 

 change, describing the structure of the organization, as a whole, 

 with a brief description of the functions of the component j)arts. 

 It discusses the development of the system, the marketing difficulties 

 that led to organization, and the economic factors that have affected 

 the development of the exchange during the past 30 years. The 

 second bulletin will cover the operating methods of the exchange, 

 Hud includes considerable data regarding the expenses of packing 

 and marketing oranges and lemons through the exchange agencies. 



CAUSES OF FAILURE IN COOPERATION DETERMINED. 



An investigation of the causes of failure of cooperative market- 

 ing associations was begun during the year. Data assembled include 

 replies to questionnaires sent to officers and members of defunct or- 

 ganizations, information secured by correspondence and by detailed 

 personal studies, and analysis of the records of the more important 

 organizations. 



At the same time less comprehensive studies haA'e been made, in 

 so far as funds and men available permitted, of the cooperative 

 movement in various sections and for the marketing of various com- 

 modities. A survey was made of the operations of the Dark To- 

 bacco Association at Hopkinsville, Ky. ; of the Dairymen's League 

 Cooperative Association, Utica, N. Y. : the New England Milk 

 Producers; and other organizations. 



ASSISTANCE GIVEN IN ORGANIZING ASSOCIATIONS. 



Service has been given to producers, State bureaus of markets, 

 and State extension officials in connection with the organization of 

 cooperative associations. Information was furnished such persons 

 constantly throughout the year by correspondence and by conferences 

 in tlie Washington office. At the request of the Minnesota Coopera- 

 tive Creameries (Inc.), two investigators met the board of direc- 

 tors in a conference in Minneapolis and offered suggestions, based 

 on a study of the association's problems regarding its reorganization 

 and marketing problems. Personal visits were made, on request, to 

 discuss the organization of a vegetable association in Florida and a 

 farmers' county exchange in Georgia. Further assistance was also 

 given the Vermont Maple Products Cooperative Exchange, which 

 had orsranized in accordance with the recommendations of the divi- 

 sion. 



COOPERATION IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES STUDIED. 



Studies have been made of cooperation in foreign countries. The 

 division has increased the number of its foreign correspondents 

 during the past year and has amplified considerably the statistical 

 material available regarding the status of the cooperative movement 

 abroad. 



Up to December 1 an investigator of the division was in Denmark 

 and other Scandinavian countries studying the cooperative move- 

 ment in agriculture in those nations. Most attention w'as paid to 

 cooperation in Denmark, and the result of this study will be made 

 available in a bulletin. The economic conditions which led to the 

 extensive organization for cooperative marketing, the underlying 



