54 STATE noirncn/rrKAL society. 



"I ain always glad to be at this meeting. It is a satisfaction to me 

 to look into the faces of such a large numbei- of young men that have 

 come into thi,^ field and are taking lu)ld of its ])rohlenis and carrying 

 on its work. I am proud of the Society, pi-oud of the progress in the 

 State of Michigan that can be laid almost directly to this Society. Horti- 

 culture has more to do than any other science or art in the attractions 

 of our state." 



After a few more appropriate remarks b}^ Mr. Garfield, Mr. Nichols 

 of the JMichigan State Farm Bureau was called upon to tell about the 

 meeting he attended in Atalanta, Georgia, 



REPORT OF ATLANTA MEETING OF FRUIT COMMITTEE OF 

 AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION. 



JAMES NICHOL, PRESIDENT, MICHIGAX STATE FARM BUREAU. 



Ladies and gentlemen: You notice that I am on the program to 

 report the Atlanta meeting of the Fruit Committee of twenty-one. There 

 was nobody admitted but accredited delegates, not because they wanted 

 to keep things secret, but they did not know what they were up against. 

 This was the first meeting where the Fruit Growers of the South met 

 with the Fruit Growers of the Northern Country. 



Most every fruit district of the United States was represented, in- 

 cluding Florida, Washington, California, all of the Eastern States. One 

 or two of the minor fruit growing states were not represented and Wis- 

 consin, and strange to say Georgia was not represented. Different 

 delegates voiced the opinion that the market situation could not be 

 changed at the present time, but there is nothing that cannot be im- 

 proved. Some of the men that have been marketing fruit are improving 

 the system we now use. It was very interesting to listen to the different 

 methods employed. 



No differences between the different sections of the United States 

 could not be reconciled. The marketing of fruit is a universal problem. 

 That does not mean that we are going to entirely" do away with competi- 

 tive marketing. 



One gentleman was representing a large fruit interest and told what 

 they had done in the way of advertising. They had heard some dis- 

 cussion in regard to vitamines. He did not know what it was — but he 

 started advertising that the fruit that he was selling contained vita- 

 mines. He soon received many letters asking how they knew that they 

 contained these vitamines and asking for testimonials. Of course they 

 could not then — but toda}^ he stated they could give one hundred or 

 more testimonials from people who say they have been benefited by 

 eating their fruit. But when he started they knew nothing about it. 



Another fruit distributing agency is to have women abroad in tlie 

 United States today, and they will go to any society that will listen 

 to them — a ladies club or church society. This lady will address them 

 and explain the value of the fruit. She will talk in a general way and 

 states that she will be glad to take a committee from this society- down 

 to the local grocery and show them how to buy fruit efficiently. Then 

 the question — what grocery will she take them to? Of course this is all 

 settled in advance. What effect does this have on tlie mind of the 

 grocers? Take a committee of three means perhaps a hundred or a 



