112 Cooperation in Agriculture 



The local organization is the unit for local crop-improve- 

 ment because the local strains that are developed usually 

 give better results in that community than the best-bred 

 seed of other localities. The introduced seed may give 

 equally good or better results after it has grown two or 

 three years in a new locality, but until it is acclimatized, 

 a variety that has been developed in a distant place sel- 

 dom equals the best locally developed strains. The plan 

 becomes still more effective when the local associations 

 federate into a state organization to act for the local 

 associations hi the distribution and sale of surplus seed 

 and to assist the local associations through expert advice 

 and direction in making their practical crop-improvement 

 work more effective. The farmers have already organized 

 in some states for crop-improvement purpose, the most 

 important work having been done among the corn-growers 

 in the Central West. This method is followed by the 

 wheat-growers also, and by the producers of tobacco, 

 cotton, vetch, and other farm crops. Within the limits of 

 this work, it is not practical to discuss all of these efforts. 

 An understanding of the movement and its relation to 

 the cooperative organization of agriculture may be had 

 by a discussion of the work of the breeders of corn. 



Corn-breeding Associations 



The first organization of the individual corn-breeders 

 of a state occurred in 1899 in Illinois. Through the efforts 

 of A. D. Shamel, who was studying corn-breeding at the 

 Experiment Station, the Illinois Corn-breeders' Association 

 was formed. Mr. Shamel says that the object of this 

 association was to develop improved methods of seed- 



