256 STATE nORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



Chicago we bring it right in direct competition with itself. Now this applies 

 only to an individnal case. There is but a small percentage of tlie commission 

 houses that have a solid business reputation, and a great many that have 

 neiihor reputation nor capita! to lose. But we as a fruit-growing community 

 are sending out Iruit all over Chicago to seventy-five or more commission 

 houses and putting it on the maiket in competition with each other. If we 

 choose perhaps eight or ten houses that have an established reputation for 

 honesty and fair dealing and consign all the fruit grown in this locality to 

 them, it would give them the control of the market where now they have to 

 unload as soon as soon as possible for whatever price they can get or take the 

 chance of carrying some over at a sacrifice. We have too much competition in 

 the Chicago market, and the fault is our own. I am well aware that it would 

 he a very difificult matter to name eight or ten commission houses that would 

 give satisfaction to everyone, as we all have our special favorites. But if we 

 could have every fruit-grower in this locality a member of the "Muskegon 

 County Horticultural Society," as in fact they should be, both for their own 

 benefit as well as the benefit of the society, we perhaps could make some 

 advancement towards a better method of marketing our fruits. What is 

 needed is unity of action in relation to all matters that will be of mutual ben- 

 efit. 



