The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-01-20
RURAL COOPERATION
IN FLORIDA.

IN FLORIDA.
1t is gratifying to learn that so
many letters have been received by
the University of Florida of late in
quiring about different phases of CO.
operation that Dean p. IL. Rolls, Of
the College of Agriculture, has added
department Of rural CO operation
to the correspondence courses GGered
by the university. Clarence Poe, edi-
tor of the Progressive Farmer TO
whose writings we have often had &C.
casion to refer, is the antLor Of the
text hook that will be used. He stud
led tho question while making obser-
yatlons as a member Of the famous
commission that visited Europe sew
eral years ago.
The agricultural news service PUB
lished weekly by the college of agri-
culture has this to say Of the awak-
ening TO their own interests Of the
rural population of Florida:
"The spirit and sentiment for CO.
operation among Florida farmers ard
fruit growers have never been so
strong as at present. In every com
munity are men and women who are
making large sacrifices in Elmo and
energy that the community may he n
better place to live in. and q better
place in which to rear a fnmilv. This
enlarged view of life has brought
more happiness and contentment Than
great riches"
Cooperation is really founded in
the spirit Of nelghborliness-of conf
dence i'm ones fellow man. Some of
the best and most successful 'o-opcra-
tive enterprises have grown cut of
the resolve of nelghbors and friends
to help themselves by helping others
through a community of effort. The
extra mule or horse which some farm
er needs occasionally in some agrlcul-
tural operation which he can not af-
ford to purchase himself. but which
some neighbor lends to him, know
ing that when he himself needs such
extra help the favor will be recipro-
Gated; the implement too costly for
one mans purse. but which several
combine to purchase and use in COM
mon; the valuable high bred animal
which several farmers club together
to buy that all of them may improve
their herds or fioclSs; all these are in
stances Of cooperation in a neigh
borhood and on a small scale.
The union Of several small produc-
crs to load car with animals all of
the same breed in order that all of
them may get the highest market
prices for their productions, or to
load a car with vegetables Of the same
kind that they may secure lower
freight rates-such things are some
times the beginning of organizations
Of producers which finally comprise
may hundreds in their membership,
and from including but one commu-
nifty become statewide.
One thing that has delayed the
spread Of the spirit Of cooperation in
this and other southern states is that
when You say corporation to the
average farmer he thinks at once Of
the great cooperative associations he
has read about. and IS resolved toI
wait until he is asked to join one.
He does not recognize the fact that
they have grown. the most success
full ones. from the initiative OF one
man or n few men who saw chat they
could benefit themselves and others
by forming combinations IN which
each man was as strong as every
other, and the whole as powerful,
though all the members be poor. as
the wealthiest and most influential of
single producers. Many man,
through cooperation. has experienced
considerable Improvement in the con-
dillon Of himself and his family with
ont additional expense but, on the
contrary, nnding his Income inereas-
I'd --1imea-U nion.