174 Cooperation in Agriculture 



brought a greater return to the community for its eggs, 

 it helped to increase the general prosperity and that under 

 these circumstances their trade improved rather than de- 

 generated. In consequence they have come to favor the 

 step heartily, to feel a pride in it, and finally to feel grate- 

 ful for being relieved of the necessity of handling the eggs. 



"The advantage of this system of marketing, to the 

 farmers or producers, has come about in two ways : First, 

 it has increased the price paid to them by compelling an 

 improvement in quality, by selling more directly to the 

 consumer, and by establishing a reputation for the eggs 

 sold under the creamery brand. Second, it has brought 

 about a realization that poultry raising by the general 

 farmer is profitable, that the income from this source is 

 considerable, and that it is capable of increase by keeping 

 better fowls and giving them better care. 



"The increase in price which the farmer is realizing 

 for his eggs as a consequence of the introduction of the 

 new method varies with the season. During the spring, 

 when eggs are plentiful and quite uniformly good in 

 quality, the difference is small and does not amount to 

 over 1 or 2 cents. From this time on the difference in- 

 creases until the following winter, when it reaches as high 

 as 10 cents or more. During the month of December, 

 1909, when this creamery was visited, farmers were re- 

 ceiving 40 cents a dozen for their eggs and continued to 

 do so during the entire month. At this very time, as 

 determined by personal investigation, farmers in a vil- 

 lage of a near-by portion of the state were receiving 25 

 cents a dozen. There was, moreover, absolutely no ex- 

 pense of marketing to come out of this 40 cents, as even 



