22 BULLETIN 1401, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
mills. A considerable part of these stored 1921 peanuts was finally 
sold as farmers' goods late in the following year. 
For the 1922-23 season the association planned more extensive 
marketing operations, using different cleaning and shelling facilities 
and an increased administrative and selling force. One of its plans 
contemplated the selling of raw shelled Virginia peanuts in 1 -pound 
lithographed cardboard cartons, two dozen packages to the case, to 
wholesale grocers and others for distribution to the consumer through 
the retail trade. The sale of these cartons was tried out chiefly in 
chain stores. A brand name and trade-mark were adopted and 
stamped on the bags and cartons of association peanuts. These 
were advertised and given some publicity by the association, but 
utilized a comparatively small portion of the crop. The larger por- 
tion of the 1922 crop was marketed in the summer and fall of 1923. 
Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed by many members 
because their net returns had not been equal to the return of non- 
members, and in October, 1923, the association authorized its mem- 
bers to market one-half their 1923 crop outside the association if they 
so desired, but asked that the members state definitely how much 
they would deliver to the association. The same policy was followed 
for the 1924 crop. 
During its early history, poor management and lack of experience 
in marketing peanuts proved severe handicaps to the association. 
Although organized to promote orderly marketing, it acted for several 
years chiefly as a " holding" company. Each season the growers' 
peanuts were held off the market in large measure until the close of 
the season in an effort to raise prices to a higher level, with the result 
that the period of active demand passed with many peanuts still 
unsold. Experienced marketing men are agreed that with semi- 
perishables, such as peanuts, orderly marketing involves placing a 
part of the crop on sale at regular intervals, in accordance with the 
demand, and neither rushing it to market all at once at the begin- 
ning of the season, nor withholding it from sale until demand for it 
has largely lessened- 
THE GEORGIA PEANUT GROWERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 
Early in 1923, some 6,000 peanut growers of Georgia united to 
form the Georgia Peanut Growers' Cooperative Association, having 
over 100,000 acres in peanut production. The "marketing agree- 
ment" signed by the members was based to a considerable extent on 
the contract of the older association in Virginia and North Carolina, 
but covered a period of five instead of seven years. Considerable 
effort was made during the year to induce the planting of good seed, 
proper cultural methods, and better harvesting, curing, and grading 
on the part of the members. 
It was felt that the presence of the Georgia association in the field 
raised the general average of prices received for farmers' goods in 
Georgia. In 1924 the number of members had reached more than 
8,000, with an acreage of over 150,000. The peanuts produced by 
members were sold to shellers. The first advance to members in 
1924 amounted to 60 per cent or more of the current price, with the 
remainder to be spread over three other payments. Early in 1925 
the association arranged with established plants to handle the shelling 
of their peanuts, and began offering shelled goods for sale. 
