130 COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE 



mostly following the lines of occupation. These 

 are scarcely truly cooperative, since they usually 

 do not effect a real organization to accomplish a 

 definite end, and they may meet only once or 

 twice a year; they hold conventions, but usually 

 do not maintain a continuous activity. These 

 societies are the greatest benefit, however, and 

 they have distinct social value. No doubt a 

 great many of them could be so reorganized or 

 developed as to operate continuously through- 

 out the year and become truly cooperative in 

 effort, thereby greatly increasing their influence 

 and importance. 



A few great farmers' organizations have in- 

 cluded in their declarations of purposes the whole 

 field of social, educational and economic work. 

 Of such, of national scope, are Patrons of Hus- 

 bandry and the Farmers' Union. These and 

 similar large societies are effective in proportion 

 as they maintain local branches that work toward 

 specific ends in their communities. 



While there are very many excellent agricul- 

 tural cooperative organizations of many kinds, 

 the farmers nearly everywhere complain that 

 there is still a great dearth of association that 



