Cooperation 153 



from the five per cent to each shipper, when such a bal- 

 ance exists. 



The association has appointed agents who were formerly 

 in the dairy business in New York, Philadelphia, and Chi- 

 cago, these agents receiving a certain proportion of the 

 selling charges deducted by the central association. The 

 business of this association is being gradually enlarged. 



The Creamery as a Center for Rural Improvement 



The creamery is the natural center around which several 

 cooperative movements may be organized. The cow- 

 testing and the cattle-breeders' organizations may be asso- 

 ciated here. It may be the center for a number of other 

 cooperative activities such as a bacon association, an 

 egg-distribution association, and an organization for the 

 purchase of farm supplies. The agents that are used to 

 market the butter may be used to market the eggs, and 

 a cold-storage plant in conjunction with the creamery 

 may be utilized as the centralizing station for the eggs of 

 the community while preparing them for shipment. 



COOPERATION IN THE DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF MILK 



The cooperative method has been applied by the dairy- 

 men to the handling and distribution of milk in some parts 

 of the United States, but not to the extent that it has been 

 used by the producers of butter and cheese. In most of 

 the large cities the milk supply is controlled by a few cor- 

 porations, by associations of dealers, and by small inde- 

 pendent dealers. In New York State, for example, the 

 largest dealer in milk is the Borden's Condensed Milk 

 Company, which is closely identified with the Standard 



