PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 151 



north, which is the far south. The southern fruitgrower has the advan- 

 tage of the northern one in cheap lands and cheaper labor, besides being 

 the early bird in the market. There are many points now in the south 

 where the fruit is sent to northern cities by the car-load, and in a few 

 places it is shipped by train-load, thereby reducing freights and avoiding 

 delays. 



Now, in view of these facts, and many more that might be cited, what are 

 the fruitgrowers of Michigan going to do in order to build up a reputation 

 that will enable them to compete with others who are rivals in the busi- 

 ness and holding a monopoly in the markets? 



The fruitgrowers of Michigan are as well located for marketing their 

 fruit as are those of any state in the union, except New Jersey and Dela- 

 ware; but for many obvious reasons they fail to realize as high a price as 

 most other localities, which are not so favorably situated. This would 

 seem to indicate that something was wrong in their system of doing busi- 

 ness. Now, what is the matter with Michigan? It is estimated that seven 

 tenths of all the fruit raised in the state are sent to Chicago to be sold on 

 commission at ten per cent. Add to this the cost of packages, freight, and 

 cartage, all of which is paid by the shipper. These expenses must be paid 

 wherever we market our fruit. 



Now, as the amount of perishable fruit sent to one place determines 

 to a large extent the price obtained, it is just as certain that, in case of an 

 overflow, we must expect low prices. This being the fact, it should be the 

 best reason in the world why we should make a change and send our fruit 

 to other points, thereby avoiding the glut of an over-burdened market. 

 But, says the fruitgrower, I can't send my fruit all over the country to 

 irresponsible parties, incurring heavy express rates, and subject to more 

 or less losses. Besides that, I have no time to attend to the details of the 

 business. 



This is all true, or nearly so, and the fact remains that one individual is not 

 always able to do it. The main reason complained of is that it costs some- 

 thing to look up customers in different localities, and the express charges 

 are outrageously high. This is also true, and as a rule there is no remedy 

 for the individual man who distributes his own fruits in the different mar- 

 kets. Yet, as there are exceptions to most rules, I will only note one that 

 came to my knowledge, which proves very conclusively that even one 

 individual is able to make a success of distributing his own fruit, in spite 

 of all the disadvantages with which he had to contend. He started out 

 single-handed and declared he never would send another basket of fruit 

 to Chicago, and he would make his own market or perish. Three years 

 ago last June he began to correspond with dealers at different points on 

 •one line of railway, and before shipping-time he had customers engaged 

 for all his fruit. The result was, every one was satisfied with the fruit, 

 which was all sold at remunerative prices; and, after paying regular express 

 ■charges, the returns were in excess of Chicago net. The fruit was not 

 above the average in size nor quality, but it was graded and packed hon- 

 estly. The next year the sales were extended on other lines, with more 

 favorable results. This year, with a very heavy crop, his peaches were all 

 wanted at good, paying prices, and he was unable to fill his orders. Not 

 n basket was sold in Chicago. Others could be named that have done well 

 in a private way. 



Now, if this can be done by individual effort, is it not sufficient evidence 



