CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS 
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ducer need not lose his individuality; he may use special 
methods and mark his produce with his own brand or 
trade mark. 
247. Educational advantages. — Co-operation means 
better and more intelligent gardeners because of free and 
mutual exchange of ideas. This is a daily occurrence in 
organized communities. Jones and Smith meet at the 
shipping station. Jones has the better watermelons. 
Smith wants to know how they were grown, and his 
neighbor is pleased to tell him, because their interests 
are mutual. Meetings of the association are held from 
time to time. The strong organizations are able to em- 
ploy the best talent, and the result is that these meetings 
or conferences are great educational forces. In some in- 
stances the associations have been able to interest the 
experiment stations in their problems, and have secured 
special investigations in their behalf. 
248. Co-operation relieves the producer. — One of the 
greatest advantages of co-operation is the fact that the 
producer is relieved of the strain of selling his produce. 
This often causes more worry than the growing. The 
association relieves him of this anxiety, and all of his 
time and energy may then be devoted to the work of pro- 
duction and the preparation of crops for market. He can 
give his undivided attention to his work at home, and for 
this reason his earning power should lie practically 
doubled, while at the same time he is conscious of the 
fact that the association will get more money for the 
crops than he could by individual effort. 
249. Uniformity in packages, in packing, grading and 
branding are decided advantages. The careful system of 
inspection used by organizations reduces to a minimum 
irregularities in these respects. 
250. Distribution. — The earnings from the crops grown 
in a given section depend largely upon proper distribu- 
tion. This is one of the greatest objects of organiza- 
