256 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The status of the Northport Fruit Growers' Association (Leelanau 

 county) was discussed with the secretary of tliat organization. 



A meeting was held with tlie potato growers of Wolverine (Cheboy- 

 gan county) and their organization problem discussed at length. They 

 were urged to form a non-capital stock, non-profit, organization to 

 handle their collective business transactions. 



MarJict Business Practice: A vast amount of preliminary work pre- 

 l)aratory to the introduction of the uniform systems of accounting de- 

 vised by the Bureau of Mai-kets has been carried on in the state. 



Informal audits were made of the 1916 business of the following or- 

 ganizations : 



Allegan Count}' — Fennville, Fennville Fruit Exchange (fruit). 

 St. Joseph County — Burr Oak, Burr Oak Cooperative Association 



(livestock]. 

 Van Buren County — Bangor, Bangor Fruit Growers' Exchange 



(fruit). 



The accounting systems in use by three grain elevator companies were 

 critically examined. The elevators were: 



Ionia County — Lake Odessa, Farmers' Grain & Produce Co. 

 Mecosta County — Eodney, D. Mansfield & Company. 

 Saginaw County — Merrill, Merrill Farmers' Elevator Co. 



Three creameries are preparing to install the uniform system devised 

 by the Bureau of Markets for country creameries. They are: 



Barry County — Delton. Delton Cooperative Creamery.* 

 Hillsdale County — Litchfield, Litchfield Dairy Association. 

 Kent County — Caledonia, Caledonia Cooperative Creamery.* 



Four fruit shipping associations have ordered the uniform system of 

 accounts devised b}^ the Bureau of Markets for fruit and produce organ- 

 izations. The associations are : 



Allegan Count}^ — Saugatuck, Saugatuck Cooperative Fruit Asso- 

 ciation. 



Berrien County — Benton Harbor, Benton Center Fruit Association. 

 Coloma, Berrien County Fruit Association. 

 Millburg, Millburg Fruit Growers' Association. 



The first two named organizations are now installing the system. 

 Formal conferences regarding accounting matters were held with the 

 officers or employees of seven organizations as follows: 



Barry County — Hastings, Central Barry Cooperative Association. 

 Middleville, Middleville Cooperative Co-Partnership Creamery 

 Company, Ltd. 



Hillsdale County — Litchfield, Litchfield Dairy Association. 



♦Not yet visited by Field Agent, 



