BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. 181 



conditions of rural life and education which have strengthened the 

 cooperative movement, the extent of the movement, and its influence 

 on Danish agriculture are presented in detail. 



A somewhat similar study has been made of Russian cooperation 

 from original source material. Statistical data regarding agricul- 

 tural producer and consumer cooperation up to the beginning of the 

 Bolshevik regime can be secured in considerable detail from pub- 

 lished reports, and material regarding the more recent movement is 

 more fragmentary and must be gathered from a number of sources. 

 A great deal has been obtained by correspondence with the large 

 Russian cooperative societies. Since it has been released from 

 Soviet restraints, the cooperative movement in Russia has developed 

 rapidly. Especially along the lines of cooperation for credit, the 

 experience of the Russian cooperators is of value to the movement in 

 this country. The report on Russian cooperation will be in final 

 form shortly. 



LEGAL PHASES OF COOPERATION. 



Department Bulletin 1106, entitled Legal Phases of Cooperative 

 Associations, appeared last October. This bulletin discusses the 

 legal problems which arise in the organization and incorporation of 

 cooperative associations. An exhaustive search was made of court 

 records for decisions with a bearing on the activities of cooperative 

 associations, and the references given are the most extensive to be 

 found on the subject. The large demand for the bulletin made it 

 necessary to issue a reprint six months later. 



STATISTICS AND HISTORY OF COOPERATION. 



Names of 30,000 farmers' associations were received from 60,000 

 crop reporters during the year. Each name submitted was given 

 careful consideration, and, if of a functioning organization, an 

 effort made to get a report regarding its recent activities. Exten- 

 sion workers, county agents, postmasters, and business men in the 

 State or locality were called upon for definite information when an 

 association failed to respond to a series of questionnaires, or when 

 mail addressed to the organization was returned unclaimed. A 

 complete list, it is estimated, will contain information regarding 

 about 10,000 organizations. The associations are being classified 

 according to farm products handled, type of enterprise (as shipping- 

 association, packing-house company, processing plant, distributing 

 company, etc.), State and citj^ in which located, and the activities 

 of the association regarding collective purchasing. On April 1. 

 5,000 names and addresses of farmers' business organizations -.vere 

 issued in mimeograph form for the use of those interested in 

 agricultural cooperation. 



Reports received continuously from farmers' business organiza- 

 tions in this and foreign countries were studied, classified, and ar- 

 ranged so as to be available for those directly concerned with the 

 development of farmers' organizations. The information obtained 

 was classified as to associations, as to commodities handled, as to 

 types of enterprise created, etc. Classified lists and geographic lists 

 of the associations reporting have been compiled. Much of the in- 

 formation has been punched on tabulating cards that it may be 

 available for intensive studies. A classified addressograph list of 



