242 THE GREEN RISING 



4. Bureaucratic credit control of agricultural 

 commerce. 



The other theory, more conservative and more in 

 harmony with recognized economic principles, seeks 

 a solution in a producers' cooperative organization 

 with advisory or controlling powers, as follows: 



1. To adjust acreage on the basis of prospective 

 demand at fair prices. 



2. To reduce cost of production by cooperative 

 efforts. 



3. To synchronize marketing and distribution to 

 prospective demand. 



4. To reduce the spread between producer and 

 consumer. 



5. To equalize production from year to year to 

 conform to changing demands and buying 

 power. 



6. To increase the producers' bargaining power 

 based on relative quality of production. 



The latter theory perhaps offers the most promise 

 of permanent relief. The most difficult aspect of 

 the whole situation is that of preventing overpro- 

 duction. Prevailing high prices have always resulted 

 in increased acreage the following year. When the 

 government fixed the price of wheat at $2 per bushel 

 during the war it had the effect of increasing the 

 acreage planted to this crop approximately 15,000,- 

 000. The high price of cotton in recent years pro- 



