STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 1 19 



it will be a simple thing to form a combination of them all and 

 have an organization that will eclipse in efficiency the famed 

 organizations of Hood River Valley, Ozark Mountains, etc. It 

 can be done and it is simply a question whether any individual 

 or the Pomological Society will take the pains to become inter- 

 ested and do a little missionary work looking to action rather 

 than mere discussion. 



Perhaps some have already wondered if the speaker really 

 knows what he is talking about. I am glad to say that I do, in 

 a degree at least. I believe it proper to say that editors as a 

 class have unusual facilities for picking up information. Neces- 

 sarily, they are in touch with conditions throughout the country 

 and if a group of farmers is making a success in any particular 

 line of co-operative effort or other agricultural venture it is the 

 editor's business to investigate and pass on to his readers such 

 facts as will prove helpful. Moreover, editors visit among the 

 most progressive representatives of agriculture, study their con- 

 ditions, their methods, and even a blind man could not fail to 

 be impressed when thus coming in direct contact with the every- 

 day problems of these men. As some men are born great, while 

 others have greatness thrust upon them, so were some editors 

 born great, while others had it thrust upon them. 



Though being in the last named group, I am fortunate enough 

 to have had a little personal experience in this matter of 

 co-operation. I have gone out of the way to look into co-opera- 

 tive enterprises, seeking their factors of success as well as fail- 

 ure. Last year along with others. I served the Massachusetts 

 State Grange in evolving a co-operative plan suitable to put in 

 operation among patrons throughout the state. While we have 

 not yet reached the desired goal there is one Pomona grange 

 in Middlesex county that is starting out in a most commendable 

 way and promises to be of great service to its members and per- 

 haps form an object lesson for others in the state. With us, it 

 is the same old story of being unable to agree how to make the 

 start. 



My experience and observation lead me to say that never 

 will any body of farmers like a state grange, be able to unani- 

 mously agree upon the exact plan of operation. Some one will 

 see difficulty ahead if the start is made in a certain way, and 

 if you change your course accordingly, then someone else has 



