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452 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



other uses. The aim of the cooperative company would be to increase 

 the general consumption of food products, thus adding to the prosperity 

 of the whole community. 



One difficulty which the farmer encounters is the exact knowledge of 

 crop conditions. Most farmers spend their time growing their crops 

 and are not in a position to get reliable crop data. The information 

 given in local newspapers is often misleading, though probably not 

 intentionally so. I have seen accounts in local papers just as over- 

 encouraging as the local buyers were unduly discouraging. A cooper- 

 ative concern possesses reliable crop information and can act intelli- 

 gently. The value of this knowledge cannot be overestimated. I do not 

 want to be understood as stating that no farmers are posted, for the large 

 farmer has enough at stake to justify his spending the time and energy 

 in obtaining information, and he dees so; but I am speaking of the 

 smaller ones. At the same time I believe cooperative methods are the 

 best for all, both large and small farmers alike. Other vital information 

 as to stocks in warehouses, the active movements or stagnation of 

 markets, etc., would all be in the possession of a cooperative concern. 



With regard to advertising, there is no question that the only kind 

 that is of any benefit to the producer is cooperative advertising. The 

 difference between ordinary and cooperative advertising is that the 

 latter strives to increase the consumption of the commodity, whereas the 

 individual advertiser is concerned only with his own particular brand. 

 Both are selfish, I will admit, but the one giving the greatest amount of 

 good to the greatest number is entitled to the first consideration. 



If we listen to the enemies of cooperation, they will tell us what ails 

 the present situation is overproduction. At the time of harvest we hear 

 this argument until we dream about it; but how^ many times in our 

 memories have we seen it disappear as soon as the major part of the crop 

 was out of the farmers' hands. I tell you, manipulation has done more 

 to cause overproduction than the soil has. I will admit that overpro- 

 duction does sometimes happen. But how much better the situation 

 could be handled by cooperation ! At such times only the best would be 

 put on the market and thus a fair price would be maintained ; in fact, 

 perhaps as much as would have been received for the whole crop were it 

 all marketed, and we would then have the market ready to receive the 

 next harvest. ' ' What would be done with the surplus ? ' ' you ask. This 

 is a gathering of farmers and you and all fruit growers know that such 

 surplus could be profitably fed to work stock or converted into meat. 



In conclusion I may say that perhaps the best argument in favor of 

 cooperation is the unrelenting war waged against it by the speculative 

 dealers. 



