941 Agricultural Gazetts of N.S.W. [Nor. 2, 1908. 



upon for grading, packing, and pooling tlu^ir fruit . I'suall}' these associations 

 own thoroughly ecjuipped packing-houses. 



" All nicnihers arc given a like pi'i\ilcgc to pick and deliver fruit to the 

 packing house, where it is weighed in and pruj)erly rc'ceipted for. Every 

 grower's fruit is separated into difFeient grades, according to quality, and 

 usually thereafter it goes into the connnon pool, and in (hie coiii'sc takes its 

 percentage of the returns according to grade. .. 



" Any given brand is the exclusive property of the Association using it, 

 and the fruit under this brand is always packed in the same locality, and 

 therefore of unifoi'm quality. This is of great advantage in marketing, as the 

 trade soon learns that the pack is relial)le. 



"There are more than eighty as ;ociations ; c(t\cring e\ery citius fruit 

 district in California, and packing nearly two hundred relial)leand guaranteed 

 brands of oranges and lemons. 



" The several associations in a locality unit(^ to foi'm the local Hxcluinge, 

 which serves as a medium, and to a certain extent as a builer between the 

 associations and the generak Exchange. 



"Questions of purely local interest, and many real or supposed grievances 

 are disposed of in the local Exchange, and tlu'ongh it more imjioitant mat- 

 ters reach the general Exchange. 



"The California Fruit-Growers' Exchange, referred toabo^e as the General 

 Exchange, consists of thirteen stockholders, all directors, and all selected by 

 the local Exchanges. In other words, the several local E.xchanges designate 

 one )nan each from their membership as their representative, and he is elected 

 a director of the California Fruit-Growers' Exchange. By tbis method the 

 policy-making and governing power of the organisation remains in the hands 

 of the local Exchanges. 



"From top to bottom the organisation is planned, dominated, and in general 

 detail controlled absolutely by the fruit-growers, and for the connnon good of 

 all members. No corporation or individual reaps from it eithi'i- dividends oi' 

 private gain. 



" 8o far we have dealt almost exclusively with the organisation of the 

 Exchange, its co-operative as[)ects, and general policy at home Equally im- 

 portant is its organisation in the markets. 



" Seeking to free itself from the shifting inHu(^nc(^s of speculative trading, 

 by taking the business out of the hands of middlenuMi at home, the Exchange 

 founfl it quite as impoi'tant to maintain the control of its own atl'airs in the 

 markets. It never contemj)lated the opening of eithei' I'ctail or jobbing 

 houses, but to put the fruit into the hands of the legitimate dealeis iirst hand. 

 For this purpose the Exchange established a system of exclusive agencies in 

 all the principal cities of the country, employing as agents active, capable 

 young men of (wperience in the fruit business. ^NTost of these agents are 

 salai-ied, and have no other business of any kind to engage their attention, 

 and none of the Exchange representatives handle any other citrus fruits. 

 These agents sell to smaller cities contiguou'^ to their headipiarters, or in t' e 

 territory covered by their districts. 



"Over all these agencies are two general or traNclling agents, with authority 

 to supervise and check up the various offices. These general agents maintain 

 in their offi(;es at Chicago and Omaha, a complete bureau of information, 

 through which all agents receive every day detailed information as to sales of 

 Exchange fruit in other markets the previous day. Possessing this data the 

 ■selling agent cannot be taken advantage of as to prices. If any agent finds 



