114 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



producing their crops at a loss and the destruction of their indus- 

 try was threatened when they found the remedy in selling collec- 

 tively instead of individually. The truck growers of the eastern 

 shore of Virginia were facing bankruptcy and found the way out 

 of their difficulties through co-operative marketing. 



It is to be hoped that we shall not wait until forced by neces- 

 sity to co-operate in producing and marketing our crops and in 

 utilizing the income in, building a higher life on the farm. 



THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATION. 



Most people are of the opinion that co-operation in general 

 and co-operation, among farmers in particular has not been suc- 

 cessful. An idea of the extent to which co-operation has succeeded 

 and the rate at which it is growing may be had by considering the 

 following facts: 



At least fifty million people in, the world are connected with 

 some form of co-operative business. 



Co-operation has grown 40 per cent in five years in the United 

 Kingdom of Great Britain ; 50 per cent in the same time in Switzer- 

 land; 50 per cent in four years in, Germany; 50 per cent in three 

 years in Holland. 



THE PRESENT STATE OF CO-OPERATION. 



Great Britain leads the world in co-operation in distribution 

 and marketing, and especially in the strength and perfection, of 

 her mercantile organizations. The co-operative stores of that 

 country have no equal. 



Germany takes the lead in co-operative banking and in the 

 degree to which rural credit is developed. 



The United States with her building and loan associations 

 stands second in co-operative credit, but it is co-operative credit 

 applied to the town and city, with little application to the country. 

 The United States also leads the world in co-operative insurance, 

 having over thirteen billions of outstanding insurance in purely 

 co-operative societies. In the matter of co-operation in production, 

 distribution and marketing, the United States stands near the foot 

 of the list of the civilized nations of the earth. 



Denmark leads the world in co-operation in agricultural pro- 

 duction and distribution. It is estimated that four-fifths of the 

 farm produce of that nation is handled co-operatively. 



