The Raymer enterprise., 1912-08-22
FEW FACTS ON COOPERATION
Ontario Department Of Agriculture Is.
sues Bulletin Giving lnforma.
tIon Of Much Value.

Agricultural Cooperation" is the
title Of bulletin recently issued by
the Ontario department of agriculture.
Although this bulletin specially deals
with the application of the principle
of cooperation to the province OF On
tario. 1t also contains a great deal of
information that is of much interest to
US all. In 1t the progress of the move
ment in Europe is briefly outlined. A
description is given OF the methods Of
agricultural cooperation in Canada
and the United States. 1t is stated
that the movement originated about
the year 1S49. by the establishment Of
cooperative credit banks in Germany.
Out of these credit societies there
grew up supply and marketing associa-
tions. and the success of agriculture
today Is largely due to cooperative or.
ganization. In Denmark the highest
degree Of attainment has been reached
In agricultural cooperation. The
movement began by the establishment
OF the first cooperative store in 1866.
In 1882 the first cooperative dairy was
established. and in 1887 the first bacon
factory was established. The first egg
export society was formed in 1895, and
In 1905 the first shipping association.
AT the present time. 1t is estimated
that 80 per cent. Of the dairy products
and 60 per cent. Of the bacon are han
died comparatively. Under co-opera-
tion, the butter trade Of Denmark has
increased from seventeen million dol
lars in 1882 to fifty.five million dol
lars In 1908. In the dairy societies Of
Denmark the principle Of unlimited liza.
bility is followed, each member assum-
ing full responsibility for all the lia-
bilities Of the association. There are
produce societies which manage and
protect the members and they are
united under the marketing associa.
tions. A butter quotation committee
watches the markets and furnishes
quotations to the societies. The bacon
and similar societies are modelled after
the dairy associations, but egg export
societies are somewhat different. The
form adopted with regard to the latter
Is to have small associations which
employ men to gather the eggs Of the
members. and deliver them to the rail-
way stations, for shipment. consigned
to stores and packing houses. which
now take the responsibility Of market
ing. Before the eggs leave an indi.
vidual member Of the society he marks
them with number given to him by
the society. so that II the eggs are
found to be bad they can be traced to
place Of production.
With regard to cooperation in Can.
ada 1t Is stated that the lack Of un-
derstanding on the part of those at
tempting organization has been prev.
alent, and only lately has the true CO.
operative idea begun to make way.
The chief fields Of organization among
Ontario farmers have been wholesale
and retail supplies. dairying, bacon
curing, and fruit marketing. There
are at present thirty-six so-called CO.
operative fruit associations in Ontario.
but some Of these are organized in the
form Of joint-stock companies. In In
vestigating the failures Of several fruit
associations, the following causes were
stated to be the principal ones: l..
Lack Of knowledge OF the cooperative
idea. 2. The society was joint-stock
company. 3. The acreage of fruit was
so small that successful business could
not be built up. 4. Bad management.
An account is given Of the proper
method Of organization. and the form
Of constitution and bylaws which Is
suited to any cooperative association
where capital is needed to carry on
business.