COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS 303 



original and significant and that is organization to 

 provide for irrigation outlined in Chapter VIII. Be- 

 sides these two groups of undertakings which are 

 locally original in design and method, California 

 participates in others which are more widely preva- 

 lent throughout the United States. One of these 

 is Farmers' Mutual Insurance which was provided for 

 by a special enabling act of the legislature and which 

 had been pursued to satisfactory local operation in 

 several counties. In 1920 there were twenty farmers' 

 fire insurance companies in operation, writing in- 

 surance to the amount of $22,624,656.30, receiving 

 premiums and assessments (net) of $211,329.60 and 

 paying losses of $98,422.99. 



Organizations, usually proceeding without incor- 

 poration, such as farm bureaus, cow testing, stock- 

 growers' and range cattlemen's associations, agricul- 

 tural fair and stock show associations and the like, 

 are widespread and active in promotive and pro- 

 tective work. They are for the most part operating 

 for the purposes and by the methods prevailing in 

 other states and are notably successful and influen- 

 tial. 



