124 State Horticultural Society. 



requisite for success is sound business judgment. Unfortunately, this 

 gift is not bestowed upon all men, nor is it always found in the same 

 degree. Hence the individual efforts of the grower to distribute his- 

 crop profitably very often meet with failure. 



So much for the isolated attempt of the individual, and this leads us 

 to touch upon some of the benefits that may accrue from honest co-opera- 

 tion. ^^'e are living in an age of combination and united effort along all 

 lines of production, and co-operation in the proper distribution of fruit 

 is by no means a novel idea. With small and more perishable fruits the 

 plan has been tried with some degree of success. Its entire success, of 

 course, depends upon thorough organization and harmonious operation 

 in- everv detail. A method which is successful in the distribution of one- 

 kind of fruit may be successfully applied in its essential features to the 

 distribution of all kinds of fruit, and there seems to be no good reason 

 why the co-operative system cannot be carried out in the distribution of 

 the apple crop. In many cases the expense of cold storage would be ob- 

 viated by selling on the track at a remunerative price, and glutted markets, 

 which inevitably follow random shipments, might be prevented to a large 

 extent. The grower's product is less likely to fall into the hands of 

 unscrupulous commission men, and a higher shipping grade can be main- 

 tained. 



Under the present conditions, however, the most profitable way for 

 the grower to dispose of his apple crop is often a combination of several 

 of the plans above suggested. For instance, prices for fancy grades some- 

 times range high enough at picking time to justify a sale in the orchard 

 or f. o. b. at station. In this case the inferior grades and culls can be 

 distributed by the grower in local markets. However, it more often 

 occurs that prices even for fancy apples run low in September, and the 

 grower, rather than sacrifice his crop, prefers to place his best stock in 

 cold storage and await later prices. After all froni the grower's stand- 

 point the aim of distribution is to get the most out of the crop, and until 

 some system of united effort is introduced the individual's success mu'^t 

 depend upon his energy and good judgment. 



ORCHARD OX THE CONTRACT FLAX. 



(By H. S. W'ayman, Alvord, ^lo.) 



Our usual plan for putting out orchards on what we term the con- 

 tract plan is as follows : 



We, representing first party, furnish to second party the trees, in lots 

 of not less than i.ooo, and direct the planting, culture and care of the 



