380 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



backward in co-operation among the fruit growers in the matter 

 of marketing. The secretary of horticulture, Mr. Bland, is 

 devoting a great deal of energy and time at the present moment 

 in an endeavor to effect greater organization among the fruit 

 growers in this State. 



I may modestly make claim to having come into contact, 

 directly or indirectly, with every irhportant co-operative or- 

 ganization of fruit growers, in this country in the course of visits 

 among forty-two states of the Union within the last three years. 

 I am going to give you briefly a few remarks covering the ex- 

 perience and accomplishments of various successful co-operative 

 organizations throughout the country, including a central selling 

 exchange plan adopted by factors of various states. 



That fruit grower who considers his marketing problem 

 solved when he with others has formed in his home district a local 

 co-operative shipping association may be likened unto the 

 ostrich which presumes to conceal itself from pursuers by 

 burying its head in the desert sands. 



The organization of local fruit shipping interests is but a 

 short step forward in the direction of that co-operative effort 

 that has for its purpose the securing of greater net returns for 

 products of the farm and orchard. No local shipping asso- 

 ciation can achieve much along the lines of that purpose which 

 does not comprise a majority, if not all, of the growers of the 

 community in which it exists and, probably more importantly, 

 retain the unfailing, loyal support of its membership. It is 

 vitally important that Mr. Individual Grower must attend to 

 that. 



Co-operative effort alone cannot be relied upon to secure 

 for the association member that return for his products com- 

 mensurate with his land investment, cost of material, labor and 

 individual energy, but for that he is much dependent upon the 

 efTicient, businesslike and economical management of his ship- 

 ping association. 



The duty of securing to his organization that character of 

 direction and conduct of its affairs that makes for success is 

 accepted too lightly by the individual grower in many instances, 

 with the result that frequently the principles of co-operation 

 are jeopardized and oftentimes receive serious setbacks through 

 incapable or discreditable management. This duty Mr. Grower- 

 Member must accept as one of his important responsibilities. 



Prominent of the causes of failure among the co-operative 



