Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-11-19
A FARMERS EXCHANGE
Success In Cooperation Illus
trated.

Some Interesting Statistics on Han
ding Crops on Co. operative Plan by
Potato Growers Association In
Now Jersey.
The subject of cooperative buying
and selling among farmers is increas-
ing in interest with them every year
as the advantages to be derived there
from are being recognized. One obsta-
Gle to successful cooperation has al
ways been the farmers themselves
Selfshness has spoiled many a COM
bination Tor financial purposes. The
unwillingness to trust the sale of farm
products to an agent or manager has
been the bar to progress. But things
are changing, and we predict that the
next few years vii see more cooper
alive enterprises organized and sue
cessfully conducted than in a long time
past. In this work the grange must
take an active and prominent part
There is in Freehold, N. j., a most
successful potato growers association,
the Monmouth County Farmers Ex-
change. 1t was formed about two
years ago. At the annual meeting in
December the report on the business
done for the year showed a total Of
2,011 separate shipments, containing
nearly 204, 600 barrels Of potatoes and
packages Of other soil products, and
the whole was valued at more than
$454,O00. The shipments reached 121
different customers in fifty cities and
towns and eleven states. Besides this
outgoing business, the society did an
incoming business Of nearly $4,000 in
seed potatoes purchased in Maine and
New York
This report was 30 satisfactory that
many growers who had been afraid to
run risks in their own interest became
members. The membership jumped
from about 800 to a total now of over
600, the sales Of capital stock were
large, and now the exchange has about
$4,000 with which to cooperate.
Besides all this, it has erected suit
able buildings at the various shipping
points on the two railroads running
through the twenty-five or thirty miles
that constitute the potato district. 1t
has also more recently built a brick
fertilizer mixing house, $50 by 30 feet.
at Marlboro, on the Central Railway
of New Jersey and is planning GA an
other. 200 by 80 feet. to be on the Penn
sylvania at Freehold. The capacity of
these two houses will be between 1000
and 5000 tons of fertilizer annually.
Business will be begun in these houses
for the season of 1910 and an enor
nous saving in cost of fertilizers eff
fected. The object is to sell fertilizer
to members as near actual cost as pos
sible.
Commenting on the requirements for
successful cooperation, the American
Agriculturist remarks that the fore
most requisite is loyalty to the organi-
cation. Unless the grower is willing to
be governed by the fundamental law
Of what benefits one benefits all he
has no business to join a farmers ex
change because a penny in his hand
will appear more substantial to him
than a dollar on the horizon will. II
there are enough Of such men organ
ization will prove to be a farce, and
the middleman will continue to laugh
in his sleeve CoeQual in Importance,
there must be competent management
Again, the rules Of grading must be
strictly followed by each producer. 30
that the exchange may win good rep
utation for honest packing and assets
with value cannot be overestimated.
Still further. the members must place
implicit trust in the manager, who
must not be tangled up with red tape.
And this man must not be underpaid.
His position is an exceedingly exacting
and responsible one, especially during
the busy season, at which time, II ever,
he must have free retn.