86 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



not ripe for an amalgamation of the fruit growers into a 

 central exchange. This meeting was held at the Elm House, 

 Auburn, on June 25. Seven of the ten fruit growers' organiza- 

 tions of the state were represented, and after the Bureau had 

 outlined a plan of organization, based upon similar lines to 

 those already in successful operation, the delegates voted to 

 form the Maine Fruit Growers' Exchange. The purposes of 

 this organization, in a broad way, are to buy, sell, contract for, 

 deal in, produce, handle and manage all kinds of fruit, vegeta- 

 bles and agricultural products ; to buy and sell, contract for, 

 to lease and manage real property ; to borrow and loan money ; 

 to execute promissory notes, bills of sale, deeds and leases, 

 mortgages and all other instruments in writing, necessary to 

 the transaction of the business of said corporation; to buy and 

 sell merchandise ; to cure, pack, dry, can and preserve all kinds 

 of fruit and vegetables ; to buy, lease and operate boats, cars 

 and other means of transportation; to do any and all acts and 

 things necessary to carry out the above named business and 

 promote the welfare of the members of said corporation. 



The organization was perfected and organized under the 

 state law. Officers were elected as follows : 



President, W. H. Conant, Buckfield 



Vice-President, J. H. King, Mechanic Falls 



Clerk, W. G. Roberts, Waterboro 



Treasurer, Prof. A. C. Russell, Kent's Hill 



Directors: W. H. Conant, W. G. Roberts, J. H. King, 

 Prof. A. C. Russell, A. N. Deering, Denmark 



The local associations represented in the Exchange are as 

 follows : 



Oxford Bears Fruit Growers' Association Hebron 



Kennebec Hillside Fruit Growers' Association, Kent's Hill 

 Pine Tree State Fruit Growers' Association, Mechanic Falls 



Ossipee Valley Fruit Growers' Association, Waterboro 



Moose Lake Fruit Growers' Association. Denmark 



Auburn Fruit Growers' Association, Auburn 



Red Fox Fruit Growers' Association. Acton 



At a later meeting of the Board of Directors. E. E. Conant 

 of Buckfield was chosen as manager of the Exchange. 



