6 Cooperation in Agriculture 



THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE FARMER 



There are conditions among farmers other than those 

 already mentioned that make the organization of their 

 economic relationships difficult of accomplishment, not 

 the least of which is the independence of the farmer him- 

 self. For generations, the tiller of the soil was self-suffic- 

 ing and was bred and trained to depend on his own efforts. 

 As a result of his heredity, his experience, his environ- 

 ment, and of his necessities, he is slow to delegate authority 

 over his interest to any one. Dealing with complicated 

 economic problems or with men has not been a part of 

 his inheritance or of his experience, and, not being skilled 

 in these arts, he underestimates the grade of ability needed 

 to manage a business agricultural organization with which 

 he may become identified, nor is he inclined to cooperate 

 with others in solving common problems. He is likely to 

 be suspicious of the business dealings of his neighbors. 

 In the past, these difficulties have prevented the forma- 

 tion of many agricultural associations and have wrecked 

 others that have been formed ; though these conditions 

 are gradually improving as agriculture becomes more 

 specialized and commercialized, as the farmer becomes 

 more experienced in business matters, and as the social 

 and economic relations of the farmer grow more complex. 



PROSPERITY OF THE AMERICAN FARMER 



As a class, the American farmers have been very pros- 

 perous in the last twenty years. They have been reap- 

 ing the rewards of better farming, and of a prosperity 



