44 BULLETIN 547, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
handle the output. During the last four years $250,000 has been 
spent in advertising the brands of the exchange. It is considered 
that this money has been well spent, as a reputation has been built 
up by proper grading and standardization which has been brought 
to the attention of many dealers and consumers, thus increasing the 
demand and resulting in greater consumption and better distribution. 
The Florida Citrus Exchange consists of four divisions: First, the 
individual growers; second, the local associations made up of indi- 
vidual growers; third, the subexchanges made up of local associa- 
tions; fourth, the central exchange made up of the subexchanges. 
The growers are the producers and the owners of the entire business. 
The local associations look after the picking, hauling, packing, and 
loading of the fruit belonging to its members. The subexchanges 
act as forwarding agents for the associations. The central exchange 
takes care of the selling, collecting, advertising, and kindred matters. 
FARMERS' UNION OF MAINE. 
The Farmers' Union of Maine was organized in 1912 as a result of 
a movement started by the Bureau of Markets and Supplies of the 
State Agricultural Department. A number of local associations were 
formed, which in turn formed a central organization called the 
Farmers' Union of Maine. At present there are over 70 local unions, 
every county in the State being represented by one or more unions. 
A local union becomes affiliated with the central organization by the 
purchase of five shares of stock at $10 each. 
The local unions began the shipping of potatoes in 1912 and shipped 
about 250 carloads during that season. Early in 1915 the union 
secured a stall in the Boston and Maine Railroad produce house in 
Boston and placed a man in charge. A total business of $250,000 
through this house is reported for the year 1915. 
There was a demand among the farmers for supplies such as grain, 
flour, and feed, and the manager of the union succeeded in organizing 
the Farmers' Union Grain and Supply Co., which contracted with a 
private wholesale concern to handle supplies for the union. This 
company d^d a business of $250,000 during last year. In the fall of 
1915 the local unions voted to buy the private wholesale house, each 
local giving its note for $500. It is estimated that the savings will 
pay the interest and retire the notes in about five years. 
The Farmers' Union has effected a saving to the farmers in the 
matter of contracting for fertilizers. It had been customary for the 
farmers to purchase a large amount of these on credit, which meant 
the payment of considerably more than the cost price. The union 
was able to make a contract at a lower price than individual farmers 
were paying, and this new price was instrumental in reducing the 
cost to all the farmers. 
