iv PREFACE 



of breaking a new trail, and the results are subject to the 

 deficiencies almost certain to appear in the first treatment 

 of any problem. The only work that eveii remotely re- 

 sembles the present undertaking is Powell's excellent book, 

 "Cooperation in Agriculture." But the field covered by 

 this book is, as its name implies, far wider, and the treat- 

 ment is general rather than intensive. However, as Mr. 

 Powell is General Manager of the California Fruit Growers 

 Exchange, he bases many of his generalizations on the con- 

 ditions found in the citrus industry and takes many of his 

 illustrations from it. Marketing and cooperation receive 

 but scant consideration in Coit's "Citrus Fruits," which is, 

 however, by far the best account that has been published 

 of the industry as a whole. 



Though printed accounts of cooperative efforts in the 

 citrus industry are almost lacking, there is a considerable 

 mass of lore connected with the exchange system. This 

 I have tried to absorb by conversation and by observation. 

 For many of the statements made no printed authority can 

 be cited, but many of the assertions in the text are based 

 upon papers, pamphlets and reports prepared by organiza- 

 tions in the citrus industry for their own information and 

 made available on the condition that no direct reference 

 be made to the source from which the information came. 



As there is much misunderstanding about the exchange 

 organization, it should be borne in mind that where the 

 word "Exchange" occurs the California Fruit Growers Ex- 

 change, a corporation, is signified; where "exchange" is 

 used, reference is to the whole distributing system, com- 

 posed of local associations, district exchanges and the 

 California Fruit Growers Exchange. 



The author's thanks are due to Professor H. R. Mussey 

 of Columbia University, who suggested the work and super- 

 vised a preliminary draft; to Professors F. A. Fetter and 



