248 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



him. The chief field of agricultural co-operation is that of market- 

 ing. If, for instance, it undertakes the manufacture of butter, it 

 does so, or should do so, for the production of uniformity and excel- 

 lence of quality as an aid in marketing. Wherever the object of 

 marketing is lost sight of failure is sure to result. (Ont. Dept. Ag. 

 Bui. 192.) 



Difficulties in Organizing. All classes of farmers are constitu- 

 tionally and proverbially distrustful of other people and of one 

 another. In a fruit association there arise (such is the experience) 

 the most inveterate jealousies. Each man thinks he is furnishing a 

 better grade of fruit than his neighbor, though all share alike in the 

 profits. Each one fears the other will reap some special advantage 

 somehow. In particular, the appointment of managers, superin- 

 tendents, supervisors of grading, shipping agents, and all other offi- 

 cials of the company offers a sufficient opportunity for the elabora- 

 tion of all sorts of neighborhood quarrels. Each man thinks he 

 ought to be manager, and when one man is finally chosen he is 

 usually suspected of all sorts of favoritism. In any case, he is apt to 

 be hampered in his business relations by committees, boards of direc- 

 tors, and various kinds of red-tape and foolishness. Often he has to 

 consult a committee before taking any important action. 



Another difficulty which arises from the same cause is that sub- 

 scribers to such an association never want to pay a manager's wages. 

 Two or three dollars a day is considered good pay. Yet such a man 

 is compelled at times to handle thousands of dollars' worth of busi- 

 ness. The position is such as in ordinary business life would com- 

 mand a salary of $5,000 a year or more. Where such conditions 

 exist there is little chance of success. They may be avoided to a 

 great extent if inexperienced shippers will limit the size of their 

 organization until the minor details connected therewith have been 

 thrashed out. A few selected growers are sufficient to demonstrate 

 to the community the advantages of co-operation, and a healthy ex- 

 pansion will soon take place. (F. B. 309.) 



The problem of production seen from the farmer's view-point 

 is one of marketing and the solution must be seen by the agricul- 

 turalists from a marketing point of view before he will improve his 

 ways. Scientific investigation has done great things for production, 

 but science finds itself continually check-mated by the refusal of the 

 agriculturalists to adopt scientific methods. The fact is, farmers are 

 seeking first to solve the great question of marketing before they take 

 up the problem of scientific production. (Ont. Dept. Ag. Bui. 192.) 



Among the difficulties in organizing co-operative associations 

 among farmers is to secure the proper amount of capital necessary 

 to carry on the business of the association. Sometimes this capital 

 is raised by loans from banks or private individuals; in other cases 

 it is procured by the issue and sale of shares of stock as an ordinary 

 joint stock company. Co-operation is a great economizer in buying 

 for the use of the members of the Association. This form of co- 

 operative activity seems to be successful in all countries. Among 

 the things purchased by such co-operative associations are fertilizers, 



