30 AGRICUIvTURE OF MAINE). 



the South stood for individual shipments until growers became 

 convinced that they were at the mercy of dealers at the big cen- 

 tres, at home and abroad. 



"Truck growing which is spreading over the whole South is 

 becoming an industry of national importance. Around Nor- 

 folk trucking is of such great extent that the value this year 

 is estimated at $15,000,000. Some 40,000 to 50,000 packages 

 (crates and barrels) are daily shipped north from that port. 

 The sweet potato producers of Eastern Virginia who formerly 

 grew poorer on almost every crop because of the lack of organ- 

 ization and the glutting of some markets while others were 

 bare, are now getting rich, raising annually hundreds of thou- 

 sands of barrels, which are all marketed through a growers' 

 association. Every carload is closely followed and ordered to 

 market according to daily reports as to the supply and demand 

 in different cities. The peach industry of Georgia is now being 

 handled the same way, although the growers' association is com- 

 paratively new, while Florida orange growers last year per- 

 fected a similar plan for handling their crop. Under better 

 handling methods the vast trucking and fruit industry of the 

 South is daily becoming of more importance to that region as 

 well as to the whole country which now depends so largely upon 

 the South for early fruits and vegetables." 



Organization by growers and shippers has brought relief 

 from over competition wherever tried and will do the same in 

 Maine. The sooner we get into line to handle our fruit in the 

 best business-like method of today, the better will it be for each 

 individual and these sessions should not close without initial 

 steps being taken to protect the interests of every grower and 

 shipper as well as final consumer. The multiplying cases of 

 gross injustice both abroad and in markets here render abso- 

 lutely necessary definite and positive action. The gross injus- 

 tice inflicted upon shippers who have no representative in the 

 great centres can be overcome only by and through such or- 

 ganized mov^ement as has been indicated, where the entire ship- 

 ments of a state can be handled by a single representative who 

 can direct and divert his shipments to the best market, some- 

 thing impossible to individuals. 



Too many orchardists are at the mercy of the market because 

 of lack of proper storage room for fruit and this forces the 



