12 
BULLETIN 1302, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
period, 1915-1924. As regards the number of organizations, live- 
stock shipping associations have increased in relative importance, 
while associations handling dairy products and fruits and vegetables 
are a smaller fraction of the total number than formerly. Many 
small associations marketing dairy products have been absorbed by 
larger organizations. In this way the marketing of dairy products 
is rapidly becoming a large-scale activity. 
The changes in relative importance as regards number of members 
is marked. These changes are largely the result of the appearance 
of the state-wide and regional associations with their large member- 
ships in the tobacco and cotton producing sections and to the increase 
in number of livestock shipping associations. 
Fig. 15.— Since 1920 nearly 50 associations have been formed which handled but a single commodity and 
aim to serve an entire producing region or the producers within the boundaries of a State. The most 
important of the organizations of this new type are the tobacco, cotton, and wheat associations. (See 
Tables 42, 43, 56, 57, and 58.) The dots in the center of the circles indicate headquarters of associations 
The percentages for estimated amount of business show relative 
losses by the grain associations and those marketing fruits and 
vegetables, and show relative gains by the organizations handling 
dairy products, livestock, cotton, and tobacco. 
Such data as are available regarding the organizations which have 
gone out of business during the past 10 years are incorporated in 
Tables 64 to 70, inclusive. Tables 71 to 95, inclusive, give statistical 
information for a period of years for about 20 of the larger or best 
known associations handling various products. 
Comments of an interpretative nature have been included in many 
of the legends beneath the maps and charts. 
