The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-10-17
Co-0peration In Agriculture.

Washington, October l. -PreS'd mt
Finley, of the Southern Railway Com
pany, referring to-day to the interest
being manifested in cooperation in
agricultural communities in the South
east, said:
Zone of the most important advan-
tages of cooperative marketing is that
it is practicable for an association COM
bining the resources of considerable
number of producers to obtain much
more detailed and reliable information
as to conditions at different market
points than can generally be obtained
bv any single individual. This tends to
prevent the overstccking of one or more
markets while others may be left with
inadequate supplies which is one Of the
greatest difficulties encountered in in
dependent marketing.
"For the accomplishment of the best
results in the distribution of products
among markets it is important that a
large number of producers shall unite
in a single association or that there
shall be effective cooperation between
a number of local associations.
Another matter, the Importance of
which can not be overestimated, is that
a cooperative marketing organization
which exercises effective control over
the grading and packing of products
can build up valuable reputation for
the producers of its locality. When
buyers learn that the grading and pack
ing of any particular association may
be relied upon absolutely, its goods are
sought out and its name or trade mark
becomes an asset of value to each
member of the association. Another
advantage is that, handling larger
volume of business, the association may
find it profitable to devote more atten-
ton, not only to securing general mar
ket information. but also to looking in
to the comparative advantages of deal
ing with different buyers in the same
market than can be done by Individual
producers. Its larger volume of bust
ness also tends to increase competition
among buyers for its products and
enables it, in many instances, to ship in
carload quantities.
THE activities of cooperative sell
ling agency may also, in some instances,
be extended to matters connected with
production. 1t may, for example,
undertake the buying of the seeds used
by its members, looking into heirpurity
and germinative qualities and insuring
the production of the same varieties by
all members of the organization.
THE arrangements of the Southern
Railway Company and its Associate
Companies, in maintaining corps of
Market Agents for the purpose of
bringing producers in the territory
traversed by their lines into relations
with buyers, have recognized the value
of cooperation. The work done by
these Agents is, in itself, entirely CO.
operative. They are familiar with the
plans of organization and methods of
operation of successful cooperative
selling organizations and are ready at
all times to give information to pro-
ducers who may wish to organize CO.
operative associations for the market
ing of agricultural and horticultural
products.
Zone of the fields in which co-opera-
ton among producers has been most eff
fective is in the handling of dairy pro-
duets, eggs, and poultry through CO.
operative creamories.
"The Importance of efficient manage
ment in cooperative enterprises of all
kinds can not be too strongly insisted
upon. The success of such ar organiza-
ton can not be assured by a Imber of
farmers getting together and simply
agreeing to cooperate along certain
lines. the management must be plac-
ed in the hands of reliable man, either
a member of the association or an en-
ployer, who has business capacity and
who will insist upon conducting its
operations strictly in accordance with
business principles and keeping its ac-
counts with as much accuracy and care
as those of manufacturing or COM
merciai corporation. By giving proper
attention to these important matters
and by studying carefully the methods
by which success has been achieved by
others | believe that the farmers of
many localities in the Southeast will
find 1t advantageous to organize CO.
operative associations. 4"