No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 467 



union guarantees every box and allows no seconds or poor varieties 

 to go out under the union label; the grower must dispose of these 

 himself. The result is that such a reputation has been established 

 that its products are sold in the exacting English markets without 

 inspection. Many economies are made by buying supplies in large 

 quantities, and the union can afford to use the telegraph in keeping 

 in connection with the markets such as no individual could afford to 

 do. Sufficient power is possessed by the uuien to largely protect 

 its^elf from underselling and to keep prices up. The union is also 

 able to sell its products by "tender." Each year just previous to 

 harvesting careful estimates are made of the crop. Then sealed 

 bids are asked for on the crop or on parts of it. Practically all 

 Hood River fruit is now sold in this manner, which is one of their 

 greatest achievements. 



It is somewhat surprising at first thought that our horticultural 

 neighbors across the lake, whose interests in fruit growing do not 

 compare with ours, should so far out-do us in the handling of their 

 fruit. In the West where orchards are new, we are not so sur- 

 prised at new marketing methods, but we fail to see why Canadians 

 who arc as old in fruit growing as New Yorkers, should be ahead 

 of us in adopting modern business methods. But such is the fact, 

 however. The Fruit Marks' Act of 1903 and the thorough co- 

 operative organization in the Province of Ontario are unmistakable 

 evidences of it. 



The basis of co-operation is substantially that which has proven 

 so successful elsewhere. At present there are more than 40 local 

 associations, each complete in itself, but all working with and aided 

 by the Central Ontario Co-operation Association. Tliese local as- 

 sociations are of two types, which, however, merge into each other. 

 The first is the mutual association in which a number of growers 

 simply sign an agreement to ship all their fruit together from a 

 certain point, under the direction of a business committee, and 

 through them a manager who superintends the packing and markets 

 the fruit. Each agrees to bear his proper share of expenses and to 

 dispose of his fruit in no other way. There are many variations of 

 this agreement, and as we have already said, it merges into and is 

 often combined with the second type — the incorporated. 



In this type the association is fully organized and is incorpo- 

 rated under the Cold Storage Act of Canada. They are thus able 

 to buy and sell all kinds of fruits and fruit growers' supplies. They 

 usually own property, especially packing houses, and are in every 

 way more permanently organized. Of this organization we shall 

 speak more fully. 



Each type has its advantages and its disadvantages. The mu- 

 tual is simpler, more easily dissolved and perhaps naturally precedes 

 the first. But it has not the scope of possibilities of the other and 

 there is no individual responsibilty. The incorporated association 

 has a much better organization, and a wider field of work. It is 

 adapted to regions where large quantities of fruit are grown by 

 many small growers, and under poor conditions for marketing. But 

 it is harder to get started in a community and leads to problem^ 

 which it requires some skill to solve. Forrest is an example of the 

 first type, Catham of the latter. 



