Rlvl'ORT OF STATE HORTICULTURIST. 57 



portation rates. The cost of sending a bushel of fruit from 

 Hood River to New York City is $.50, as much as the estimated 

 cost of production. 



Facihties for producing and handhng are being improved each 

 season and a great deal is being expended by the Government 

 each year in devising methods to still further improve condi- 

 tions. Improved facilities, increased consumption and better 

 methods of transportation will all tend to offset the increased 

 production. 



Early frosts have done little harm in the State thus far and 

 we are not subject to continued droughts, the principal danger 

 being from winter injury. 



CO-OPERATION. 



The subject of co-operation is one of the most vital impor- 

 tance to the present day grower. The profit from the orchard 

 depends not only upon the ability of the grower as a producer 

 but upon his ability as a salesman as well and it is only in excep- 

 tional cases that the two are combined to the best advantage. 



The improved methods of handling the trees and growing 

 fruit have gone a long way in making the fruit growing a 

 profitable business but the question does not stop here. Can 

 the grower realize a greater profit? if so, how? 



Provided a large percentage of fruit is fancy, the only way to 

 increase the profit in this direction lies in greater thoroughness 

 and more efficient machinery. Not a great chance for a radical 

 increase in profit surely. We must look farther into the ques- 

 tion, then, and find possible "leaks" in another direction. 



The question of disposing of fruit to the best advantage is 

 one that has been the subject of much thought and discussion 

 for many years, ever since fruit has been grown commercially, 

 in fact. 



Unsatisfactory results from commission men, a greater pro- 

 duction of fancy fruit and keener market competition have all 

 aided in making the question of paramount importance to the 

 grower. With the adventure of co-operation in other industries, 

 the progressive growers in the West foresaw great chances for 

 improvement in the marketing of their fruit by this method. 

 As a result. Fruit Growers' x'Xssociations were formed and have 



