PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 153 



FROM MR. GEO. W. BARNETT. 



In response to an invitation to be present at the meeting of the society, 

 to be held at Lawton, 28th and 29th insts., I must say I fear I can not be 

 present, as other and important engagements previously made will prob- 

 ably prevent. In place of my presence, your request for a paper on pack- 

 ing fruit, especially grapes, is certainly a wise one — that is, it would be if 

 I could write anything not already known. 



It, however, is a subject that needs constant reiteration to impress itself 

 on the minds of those who carelessly drift away from correct methods. It 

 is easy to drift with the current when apparent self-interest aids the motion. 

 It is hard to resist temptation, when secrecy is assured. When the 

 standard of right is set high, and the mature judgment assures us that 

 only in that direction lies permanent success, we find the way very easy 

 to lower the bars a little and admit some things that should be barred out, 

 and console ourselves with the thought that our present gain is all right, 

 and it will never be known. 



No trade-mark ever became of value except through a rigid adherence to 

 a high standard of excellence, and the value of a trade-mark lessens daily 

 as the standard of excellence is lowered, in actual test, even though nom- 

 inally the grade is the same. " Sapolio " is the same now as a dozen years 

 ago, and "Kirk's" or "Pears'" soap or "Royal" baking powder have 

 the same formulas that first brought their virtues to public notice. I grant 

 you that mechanical formulas, or the mixing of certain ingredients whose 

 properties can be determined by chemical analysis, and whose imperfec- 

 tions can be corrected, are far easier to maintain to a fixed standard than 

 is the grading and packing of fruit. 



Yet it is possible to approach nearer the ideal — the standard — if we are 

 willing to sacrifice present gain to permanent prosperity. To maintain a 

 high standard, the manufacturer often loses heavily in spoiled materials, 

 in errors of judgment, and in various ways; but these he considers as 

 nothing compared to the record he must maintain. 



AVe demand honesty and excellence to the extent of the price we pay. 

 We don't expect a pound of exquisitely perfumed toilet soap for the same 

 price we pay for a pound of strong laundry soap; but, from the day laborer 

 to the bank president, all demand what they buy — honest delivery of the 

 goods purchased. 



On the same lines, the seller justly demands pay for his wares, and the 

 man who would undertake to pay his bills in depreciated currency, some- 

 thing not a legal tender, would be soon brought up with a sharp turn. 



We thus see that theoretically (and practically) all the world over, busi- 

 ness is carried on upon the basis of honesty and integrity — the delivery of 

 the goods bought, and t'he payment in full for goods delivered. Any viola- 

 tion of this fundamental rule of action is condemned, and the violator is 

 punished; if possible, by law, if beyond the reach of the law, by that 

 which is mightier, public opinion. 



To men whose life business is the growing of fruits for market, the views 

 of one who has made the selling of fruits a business for more than twenty- 

 five years may be of interest, yet the views I entertain are clearly along 

 the line of thought expressed. No rogue can long prosper in business. I 

 have seen too many wrecks along the shore, to make me believe for a moment 

 that trickery and fraud in business will succeed. It is a violation of the 

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