152 'STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



that a combination of fruitgrowers can do the same much more 

 successfully? 



How so? asks an inquirer. 



Now, right here is the key to the whole vexed question of fruitgrowers 

 marketing their own fruit. If a majority of the fruitgrowers of Michi- 

 gan would grade and pack their fruit in first and second-class packages, 

 and print their names on the same, guaranteeing every package to be the 

 same all through as it is at the top, with the trade-mark of the association 

 stamped on it, there would be no trouble to sell it in Chicago or anywhere 

 else where fruit is wanted. This fruit would soon bring a much better 

 price in almost any market than that without a guarantee. The great 

 fraud with the most of the fruitgrowers in Michigan is (and I know what 

 I am saying), they pack their first and second-class fruit in the same 

 package, and then expect to receive first-class prices. That is what kills 

 the fruit market in any locality, and the same practice would in one year's 

 time ruin the high reputation which California has won for herself. 



Without attempting to solve all -the problems in detail, pertaining to 

 this question, I will only add that the South Haven and Casco Pomologi- 

 cal society discussed, three years ago, in fourteen meetings of three hours 

 each, this one question. The result was that from a list of over one hun- 

 dred persons, of those who shipped fruit from South Haven, only seventeen 

 could be induced to sign their names to an agreement that they would 

 grade and pack their fruit in first and second-class packages, and put their 

 names on it, guaranteeing the fruit to be as good, and of the same grade 

 throughout the package, as it was on the top. 



If a majority of those fruitgrowers at that time had formed an associa- 

 tion, the terms of which required them to pack their fruit honestly, there 

 is not the shadow of a doubt but they would have gained a reputation for 

 good fruit, by this time, that would be worth thousands of dollars. Yes, 

 and it would have laid the foundation for a market which, if followed out 

 honestly, would add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the income of 

 the fruitgrowers of Michigan, 



If the same dishonest methods that are now practiced by the majority 

 of Michigan fruitgrowers should be adopted by manufacturers, in their 

 different lines of business, it would be safe to predict that nothing but 

 absolute ruin would be the result. 



The wonder is to me that the bulk of the fruit sells for as much as it 

 does, when we take into account how long these frauds on the market have 

 been practiced on the public. If this contemptible business of dishonest 

 packing is ever to be remedied it must be done by a combination of those 

 fruitgrowers who are willing to put their names on their packages, thereby^ 

 guaranteeing the contents to be the same throughout as on the top, graded 

 to a standard adopted by the association, with trade-mark attached to the 

 package. 



This and this alone would, in a very short time, establish confidence in 

 the markets for Michigan fruits, at paying prices, and enable us to com- 

 pete with the whole country. If this is not done in the near future, the 

 reputation for Michigan fruit will soon be so low that it will go begging 

 for purchasers, and the whole business be demoralized. 



This was followed by the subjoined two papers by two well and favor- 

 ably known commission merchants of Chicago : 



