Introduction- 17 



of the fact that community effort is desirable, but activities up to the 

 time of writing- have been sporadic and not part of any organized plan. 

 Two types of organization have been attempted in the past. A few 

 efforts have been made to bring the growers of certain communities 

 together for co-operative selling. In some instances these efforts have 

 met with some measure of success, but in general such organizations 

 have failed through lack of strength. Another type of organization, 

 designed not especially for marketing, but for general community bet- 

 terment, has been tried out with fair success. A number of Farm 

 Improvement Associations have been organized a few years at vari- 

 ous points in the Valley. These, together with other farmers' organ- 

 izations, are being made the basis of a County Farm Bureau, with wide 

 and useful functions, but not developed at this time as a special mar- 

 keting organization. 



The existence of these various community groups is desirable chiefly 

 because they can be revived temporarily if necessary and made to serve 

 as nuclei for concerted action. In many cases, they constitute the only 

 tangible bond which unites the producers of a community and it has 

 been possible in the past to make use of their existence to reach the 

 individual through his connection with the association. 



As might be expected, attempts also have been made to organize 

 producers along more strictly commercial lines. During the 1917 

 season there were in existence three or four such farmers' marketing 

 associations. Their membership at best is limited and their existence 

 is largely due to the efforts of a few individuals. Practically all these 

 organizations have been built up entirely around the ideas of their 

 farmer organizers, who have not had the benefit of expert advice or 

 counsel in planning the organization. A few have remained in exist- 

 ence for periods ranging from one to three years, while some hav^ 

 gone through various forms of reorganization and are still !n existence. 

 In all cases, there has been a definite and decided problem to solve and 

 the organizers have gone at the solution of this problem in the most 

 direct way. The goal to be attained has been always prominently 

 before them, but it is unfortunate that their plans have not been definite 

 enough in some instances to secure desirable results. With one or two 

 exceptions, these farmers' marketing associations are such only in 

 name. They are weak because their individual and collective obliga- 

 tions have been ill stated in their constitutions and by-laws, and such 

 contracts as have been entered into have not been sufficiently binding 



