50 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 It has been estimated that there are about 5,500 credit
unions in the Country, with membership of 1,250,000 and
combined-assets of $100,000,000.
 --oOo--

 There are cooperative groceries, butcher shops, general
stores, filling stations, fuel yards, bakeries, restaurants,
dairies, student supply stores, burial societies, printing
plants, laundries, garages, and a large variety of others in
general industry.
 Florida's laws covering cooperative agricultural asso-
 ciations were passed in 1909 and have been amended from
 time to time to make their provisions of greater benefit to
 the farmer.
 --Oo--

 Cooperation in the technical sense has been defined as
 a "new form of industry ... its inspiration is fraternity; its
 methods is economy; its principle is equity." It refers to
 producers and consumers who have united to satisfy their
 economic needs, collectively rather than individually.