36 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

ership selected to accomplish the undertaking. Unless a
cooperative's members feel a sense of responsibility and
ownership in their organization, it will likely be unable to
withstand a critical period.

 Although cooperatives are sanctioned by laws providing
 for their operation, maintenance, and control, the whole
 system relies on the integrity of the persons comprising the
 membership in carrying out their part of the collective
 program.

 Moreover, a multiplicity of cooperatives in the same
field competing for business without coordination of effect.
is i practice defeating the very purpose for which they
exist; that of meeting the law of supply and demand
through collective marketing. Such procedure not only
fails to stimulate confidence, but foments disagreement and
creates unsatisfactory marketing conditions and frequent
failures.

 The officials of many cooperatives gradually allow their
organizations to get out of date. This results from failures
to make adjustments to meet changes in marketing methods
and practices and other conditions which affect operations.
 The three general phases of collective agriculture that
make it desirable are:
 1. Group purchase of fertilizer, seed, and general
supplies.
 2. A planned system of planting so as to assure given
standards of production.
 3. Established marketing channels for quality products.

 In the past, the first step of the cooperative program-
the purchase of supplies, etc.-has been largely successful.
The second step, planning growing programs, has been the
weak link in the cooperative undertaking; for without
production control, the third step of marketing profitably
cannot be carried out.