112 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



individuals of the Club. If the agent be a shrewd business 

 man, consent to put aside his ordinary work, and does this 

 business as a matter of accommodation to his Club, or at a 

 lower rate than when done through the customary channels, 

 money will be saved. If not, money is lost. 



It is evident that, under the modern system, this plan 

 can not be fully and permanently carried out, for the reason 

 that the agent soon becomes the actual commission man or 

 produce buyer, the actual merchant or middle man, with all 

 the acquisitiveness of these classes. What may be done, 

 legitimately, and with better results in most cases, is this: 

 a community of farmers may combine to sell a certain quantity 

 of produce, and buy for it certain other produce. A certain 

 number of car loads of grain, for instance, may be delivered 

 upon a fixed day, to be sold in the best market. With the 

 proceeds certain goods are bought and distributed, according 

 to the wants of the individuals. So with the purchase of 

 farm machinery, etc. The principal of co-operation, how 

 ever, can not be carried into practice with any economy, 

 where competition is already sufficient to check a monopo 

 lizing tendency. 



THE ADVANTAGE OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE. 



Farmers, from their isolation and peculiar position, have 

 constantly felt the necessity of mutual assistance. In case 

 of sickness, the neighbor must often go long distances for 

 the doctor. In sparsely settled districts, when one farmer 

 went to market, it has always been expected that he would 

 do errands for his neighbors. In butchering, a reciprocity 

 of service is extremely common, a return in kind in time of 

 need being the only pay tendered or expected. Husking-. 

 bees, and other frolics of like nature, are always eagerly 



