WIDTH OF THE FIELD 257 



qualified speakers, have become a feature of the 

 development. 



The first month in business for the United Farmers' 

 Co-Opera tive Company was September, 1914, when 

 $827 was taken in. The next month the sales increased 

 to |6,250, and in November to $8,214. The December 

 sales jumped to $17,970. The sales for 1915 approxi- 

 mated $226,000. In 1916 this amount was nearly 

 doubled and during the first five months of 1917 the 

 business done reached a total of $513,000. All this on 

 paid-up capital of only $5,000. The Ontario Company 

 has secured a new charter, increasing its authorized 

 capital from $10,000 to $250,000. 



This expansion has been very satisfactory in view of 

 the special conditions which necessarily make the 

 progress of the Movement in the East slower than in 

 the West. Ontario cr~ops varying widely in different 

 districts, the same unity of interest which has made 

 possible the large grain companies of the West does 

 not obtain. The Ontario farmers have had to confine 

 their efforts to commercial lines. Co-operative sale of 

 livestock, cheese, etc., may develop in time. Also the 

 farm population in Ontario is in the minority and 

 there are few electoral divisions where the urban vote 

 does not control, resulting in mixed issues unknown on 

 the prairies. Powerful influences have been brought 

 to bear to handicap the Farmers' Movement in Ontario ; 

 but nevertheless it is spreading so rapidly that with 

 the proper educational campaign great possibilities lie 

 ahead of the Ontario farmers. 



The United Farmers of Ontario now have become 

 affiliated with the Canadian Council of Agriculture,* 

 the inter-provincial body of the organized farmers of 



* See Appendix Par. 11. 



