CO STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. 



ing ill disguise. He often exercises a great deal more common-sense than the 

 biped who seeks his destruction. 



Meeting now adjourned until morning. 



Wednesdai/ Morniiuj Session. 

 Tiie first topic of the morning was the question of 



TRANSPORTATION OF FRUIT. 



The secretary remarked that in the announcement of the June meeting it 

 was said that the matter of shipping fruit would be a topic of discussion ; 

 that in conversation with Mr. Nichols, of the Chicago & West Michigan rail- 

 way, he had learned that it would please that company to make some arrange- 

 ment by which its shippers in "Western Michigan could ship by carload at very 

 much reduced rates. This was the system practiced by shippers in Central 

 Illinois, and it had given very general satisfaction. 



From a circular issued by the Illinois Central Railway he learned the fol- 

 lowing to be some of the points required by the company : 



1. A car load is 1G,000 pounds or less. 



2. Consignor attends to loading of cars. 



3. Railroad Company sees that correct weights are given, cars properly locked and 

 sealed and billed to persons designated by shipper. 



By adopting this method of shipment the owner looks after his own fruit, 

 and if there is carelessness in handling it is his own fault. 

 The Secretary read tlie following telegram from Superintendent Nichols : 



"I regret very much tiiat on account of my assistant having been unexpect- 

 edly summoned to Chicago as a witness I cannot leave home. I hope to hear 

 that the Illinois car-load system is discussed. If in event of anything being 

 done we will reduce the rates twenty-five per cent for full car loads below our 

 present rate on small fruits to give the matter a trial. This reduction may be 

 not enough or too mucli, but we could try it and then change if necessary." 



The Secretary said it was not advisable for our society to take action as a 

 society in this matter, but the gathering of fruit-growers here rendered the 

 discussion of the topic desirable. 



Several gentlemen spoke of the desirability of some cheaper method of ship- 

 ment than exi)ress and more speedy than ordinary freight, and wished that 

 some arrangement could be entered into by which a fast freight train could be 

 utilized during the soft fruit season. 



]\Ir. Hubbell of Benzonia asked what advantage there was in rail shipment 

 when Lake Michigan bordered your orchard? 



H. H. Holt, Muskegon : We have a choice at our place, and fruit-growers 

 are divided in their opinions. Some prefer the water, others the railway ; but 

 I am satisfied that in united action better rates and accommodations can be 

 secured than are accorded to fruit-growers at present, and I would like to see 

 some action looking toward this end taken at this meeting. 



W. A. Brown : Local societies must do this. We have settled the question 

 in Berrien county and have such arrangements as we desire. Railway compa- 

 nies will yield points as soon as they see there is plenty of fruit to ship, but 

 you cannot expect extraordinary rates until you can at least fill a car per day 

 from one point. It is the amount of freight that reduces the rates and com- 



