FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 103 



this meeting, and to contribute what I am able to the meeting, so if 

 there is anj^thing that I can say or do, or any questions that I can 

 answer, I am very glad to be at your service. 



A Member: Is not tlie most vital question the packing question? 



Answer: There is no question about it. Unless the methods of poor 

 packing are absolutely stopped, the fruit growers will be lost in the 

 shuffle. There are other sections of the country, such as Virginia and 

 Colorado, who are adopting these methods, of the northwestern people, 

 and one reason why a box of Oregon apples will sell in the city of 

 Eochester for |3 to |4, when Kings or 20-ounce and other Apples grown 

 in western New York, with a flavor that is far superior to anything 

 will sell for only $1.50 to |2.00 a box. The only reason is, that when 

 a person goes to look at the end of the box and sees the variety of fruit, 

 and the stamp on it, he knows that every apple in that box is just 

 the same size, same variet}^ same color; that there is no wormy or 

 rotten apples in the box, and that there is in the box a certain number 

 of sound apples, just as represented, although they do not taste very 

 well, for his money. 



Now, the eastern people can absolutely put these western people out 

 of business, if they will adopt their methods. Look at the money that 

 they voted to spend here — just recently they voted to spend $100,000 

 in anticipation of an increased crop. Just think what a fat chance 

 you have of raising $100,00 in money for advertising purposes among 

 the growers of New York or Michigan ! Gentlemen, you are asleep, 

 fast asleep, and one of these days you will be awakened in a manner 

 that will not be very pleasing. I have planted these trees with the idea 

 of making something on the investment, and I hope it will not be in 

 vain. I am trying to get some of the growers to realize the situation 

 and go in with me and try to meet the proposition. 



Question : What is the co-operation of the commission with your Ex- 

 change? 



Answer: There is no particular co-operation bet^^'Cen the commis- 

 sioner of markets and our exchange except that he endorses our Ex- 

 change unqualifiedly. The commissioner of markets is Mr. John Dillon, 

 publisher of the Rural New Yorker and he and I have been working 

 together on this proposition for the past five years trying to do some- 

 thing to elevate the standard of the produce products of New York. 

 The Eastern Exchange acts as a distributing medium, for the fruits go- 

 ing outside of New York City. 



Question : In regard to the distribution of the fruits — you spoke of 

 apples selling at |1.50 and |2.00 per box. 



Answer: I will say that I think there is something wrong with the 

 distribution of the fruit when in some places, for instance in Wisconsin, 

 where peaches were never sold for less than $1.G5 per bushed, while in 

 other places it was almost impossible to get rid of them at' any price. 

 You must adopt the methods of the California Fruit Exchange, and 

 put men on the road no matter what the expense may be, for if you 

 sit still and wait for the people to come to you, they won't come and 

 you will have to get rid of your fruit the best way you can, and at un- 

 certain prices. 



