BENEFITS OF COOPERATION 187 



Another criterion of success is permanent popularity. 

 Since withdrawal from the exchange system is compara- 

 tively easy and involves no great expense, satisfaction 

 kmong the members with regard to the results of coopera- 

 tion is the only possible explanation of a constant or in- 

 creasing membership. Orange growers can easily ascertain 

 how members of the exchange have fared, and non-mem- 

 bers would certainly have no reason for joining unless it 

 &.ppeared that they could receive more benefits within the 

 organization than they had been receiving through other 

 marketing media. How attractive, therefore, has the ex- 

 fchange system of cooperative selling appeared to growers 

 of citrus fruits, considered as a whole? 



Growth of the California Fruit Growers Exchange, 

 1904-S TO 1915-16.* 



Per cent, of total 

 California 



Boxes shipped F. 0. b. crop shipped 



by Exchange. returns. by Exchange. 



1904-5 S.i89/)oo $ 7,124000 47 



1905-6 4706,000 9.936,000 47 



igo6-7 6,150,000 12,269,000 55 



1907-8 6,629,000 11,754,000 56 



1908-9 8,711,000 13,959,000 59 



igop-io 7,579,000 14832,000 59 



1910-11 10,843,000 20,708,000 61 



1911-12 9,191,000 16,891,000 61 



1912-13 4900,000 13,500,000 61.5 



1913-14 11,262,000 19,247,000 62 



1914-15 11,890,000 19,574,000 62.5 



19x5-16 12,102,000 27,703,000 67 



Such a record of continuous and undramatic growth is 

 the strongest evidence that those in the best position to 

 judge as to the merits of this particular system of coopera- 

 tion believe in it and support it. 



* Figures compiled from the Annual Reports of the General Man- 

 ager of the CaUfomia Fruit Growers Exchange. 



