270 Cooperation in Agriculture 



and it not only fairly apportions the cost of water delivery 

 among the members, but it also very effectually induces 

 economy in the use of water by members. Such a charge 

 may be adjusted annually by the directors in considera- 

 tion of whether a surplus or a deficit was produced the 

 previous year. 



"The mutual water company has been the most success- 

 ful form of irrigation organization in Southern California, 

 and its efficiency has been demonstrated elsewhere in this 

 and other states. The largest mutual companies in the 

 citrus belt irrigate about 20,000 acres. The largest mutual 

 company hi the United States is in Imperial Valley and 

 irrigates 100,000 acres." 



