STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. llj 



it not be to your advantage to know that the market there was 

 glutted on a particular day but that the Boson market was short. 

 All of these things would be mere incidentals to an active 

 co-operative association. 



In case you are interested in this subject of a co-operative 

 fruit growers' exchange and ask me for a plan of organiza- 

 tion, I immediately refer you to the start made by the little 

 society down at Turner. A few weeks ago I investigated the 

 foundation upon which the Turner fruit growers are building 

 and am inclined to believe they have made a good start. The 

 plan would necessarily vary with the location and the exact 

 objects sought. The Turner growers as you probably know 

 plan on a central plant where apples will be taken and uniformly 

 graded and packed. Every member must pick his fruit in prime 

 condition and deliver it to the packing house or shipping point 

 on call of the manager. No fruit shall be accepted except that 

 which has been sprayed. Every member must also sell his 

 apples to the association rather than another individual. Provi- 

 sion is made for packing the fruit at the home of the producer 

 under the direction of the manager or competent assistant. 

 The company is incorporated for $10,000 and the avowed object 

 is the better production and sale of fruit and farm produce. A 

 share of stock costs $10 and the affairs of the company are 

 managed by a board of five directors who in turn employ a 

 manager. I am informed that the past season the Turner 

 growers bought a large power sprayer and co-operatively 

 sprayed their fruit. This was something specific but if I am 

 correctly informed, no co-operative marketing of the crop was 

 practiced this fall, presumably on account of short supply. 



The Turner association represents something like 30.000 or 

 more barrels of apples for a normal season. At $1.50 a barrel 

 this would mean a business of $45,000 and a 5% commission 

 deducted from the sales for each individual would mean better 

 than $2200 which would make a good start towards paying 

 expenses. It might be possible to arrange with the manager 

 so that he should receive 2% or 3% on the dollar for his work. 

 This would give him an interest and afford an inducement to 

 bring in more fruit and return larger sums to the growers. 



Then again, it might be advisable to erect a storage plant and 

 handle the fruit in that way, receiving the gratifying profits 



