440 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



their crops, aiul so the better know how to dispose of them. It would perhaps 

 be well to appoint a committee to ascertain what trees are already set out, and 

 what are to be set out next year. We should thus be enabled to make our 

 future plans to the best advantage. 



Mr. Avery. — In 1S48 the Salina Bank was ftjrmed in connection with the 

 salt works at Syracuse and operated on the principal proposed by Mr. Curtis. 

 Its establishment resulted favorably to the salt producers of that regioii. 



Mr. Tracy. — I would inquire of Mr. Parmelee if any co-operative societies 

 exist at Benton Harbor. 



Mr. Parmelee. — Several such societies were organized at Benton Harbor, none 

 of which succeeded. It would no doubt be an advantage to those intending to 

 plant to know what trees are already planted in this section of the country. 

 It is possible that there are a great many more early fruit-bearing trees planted 

 than we suppose there are. People often plant a greater proportion of early 

 trees than they intend to. In sales of trees from my nursery I have remarked 

 that too great a demand has been made for early trees. In small orders es- 

 pecially the proportion of summer and fall trees has been too large. 



Mr. Tracy. — It is the small growers that spoil the market. Having but a 

 small quantity of fruit to dispose of, the price of it is not a matter of so much 

 importance to them as to the large growers ; and they sell at a low rate rather 

 than hold their fruit to enforce a better price. 



Mr. Grey. — If co-operation was established how great an extent of territory 

 would it comprise ? If only the Peninsula, others in this region might frus- 

 trate our plans by selling at whatever time and price they please. 



Mr. Parmelee. — I believe that many of the low prices paid for our fruits is 

 owing to the miserable condition in which they are put on the market. I have 

 ^een fine apples shaken down from the trees. What wonder then if a reduc- 

 tion of 50 cents per bushel is made on these bruised apples from the price they 

 should have brought if sent to market in good shape. Fruit, if presented for 

 sale sound and well packed, will always bring a good price. And we need no 

 co-operation to do this, as each farmer can store his own. Cellars can be built 

 cheaply, and the long-keeping qualities of our winter apples will enable us to 

 keep them till spring, when they realize from six to ten dollars a barrel at 

 Chicago. As to our summer perishable fruits, we can send them to Escanabn. 



In less than three years from this date boats will come into the bay for our 

 fruit if we have enough of it to sell. There is no fear of the coming, for fruit- 

 freight pays them well. In the early days of fruit-growing the same state of 

 things existed at St. Joseph as we experience at present. We started with low 

 prices. What we need more than co-operation is to instruct our fruit-growers 

 that apples are worth caring for, and that they, and indeed all fruits, should be 

 sent to market well packed. Very much depends on this matter of packing fruit, 

 — more than a great many suppose. When a man puts up his fruit well and hon- 

 estly it will sell at a good price. Another thing we need is a factory for the 

 manufacture of barrels, boxes, and baskets to pack our fruit in. 



A[r. Brinkman. — I have no doubt that canning and drying establishments 

 would prove advantageous to us, but I do not think the same of co-operation. 

 I believe in every man caring for and putting up his own fruit ; he then knows 

 what he has and what he sells. 



Mr. Avery. — I do not believe co-operation necessary, except for small fruits. 

 Winter apples will take care of themselves. Every man should take care of 



