NOTICES RELATIXG TO CO-OPEIi^VTION AND ASSOCIATION 



2. HUMPHRY (J. R.) and KERR (W. H.) : A system of accounts for live-stock shipping 

 ASSOCIATIONS. (U. S. Dcpt. Agr. Bull. 403 (1916), pp. 14). 



In this bulletin types of shipping agencies and methods of financing 

 shipping associations are described, together with methods of keeping 

 the accoimts of such associations. The authors have outhned a system 

 in which the only books of record required are a cash journal, consisting of a 

 multi-column cash book and a journal combined, with provision for a de- 

 tailed account of sales of supplies, and an ordinar\^ form of loose-leaf 

 ledger. The}' also describe other forms that may be used, such as the 

 shipping record envelopes, members' receipts, members' account sales, 

 manifests, sales tickets, and cash receipts. Sample forms are included in 

 the bulletin. 



3. BEXEI/Iy (J. A.), MACPHERSON (H.) and KERR (W. H.) : A survey of typical co-op- 



ER.\TIVE STORES IN THE UNITED STATES. {U . S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 394 (l9l6),pp. 32, pls. 2). 



Data collected from sixty stores in ten States by the Office of Markets 

 and Rural Organization in co-operation with the Oregon Agricultural Col- 

 lege are reported and discussed. 



" The figures collected in this survey bring out the conclusion that 

 the majority of the co-operative stores established are unsuccessful in 

 achieving their main object — saving on purchases to members and a re- 

 duction of the high cost of living. This conclusion is borne out by the 

 supplementary notes collected from managers who could not apply statis- 

 tics, and by notes on interviews with leaders who are acquainted with the 

 store movement in whole sections which could not be covered in detail. 

 But that there is one real service which the co-operative stores have per- 

 formed seems to have been demonstrated again and again. Even in cases 

 where stores have failed absolutely and gone into bankruptc}'' they have 

 frequently been responsible for the introduction of improved business me- 

 thods in the towns where they were established. They have had the effect 

 of stimulating com])etition. In cases where the merchants have com- 

 peted keenly against the co-operative store they have been compelled to 

 adopt more efficient business methods. This has resulted in lower prices to 

 every consumer in the locality and frequently in better prices to farmers 

 on produce ". 



The authors believe that the conditions necessar\' for success are good 

 leadership, capable management, favourable environment, and adequate 

 legal safeguards, and that a lack of these is generally the cause of failure. 

 A number of statistical tables, setting forth the various facts concerning 

 the stores from which this survey was made, are included in the bulletin. 



