196 Appendix. 



better price he will pay. Spring wagons should always be used in 

 hauling, as a dead axle causes more or less bruising. It is our intention 

 not to pack any apple that shows a bruise. Wagon covers should always 

 be used in hauling the fruit to and from the depot, otherwise the boxes 

 will become soiled and the fruit more or less dirty and dusty inside. 



I have spoken to you about producing in quantity; about growing 

 fancy fruit and putting up a fancy package; about creating a reputa- 

 tion and a demand; in fact, in a general way I have told you briefly 

 about many of the details that have been conducive in securing for 

 Hood River prices that are the wonder of the world. All these things 

 any locality suitable to fruit growing can do. But there is one feature 

 I have not yet spoken of, and perhaps it is the most important of aH— 

 that is our union. The success of the Hood River Apple Growers' Union 

 speaks for itself without any comment. But you who are not familiar 

 with the union's methods do not realize its value nor its benefits. The 

 union enables you to combine the smaller quantities- of individual grow- 

 ers and make up straight carloads. The union can put in a system of 

 packing and inspection that secures a uniform pack and a fancy grade. 

 The union can do business on a wholesale basis while, on the other 

 hand, a grower can do only a small retail business, or ship his fruit on 

 consignment. The Hood River Union raised the price on Spitzenbergs 

 from 85 cents per box to the magnificent figure secured this year; an:l 

 last, but not least, the Hood River Union last year saved its members 

 $7,500 on boxes, paper and spray material. 



Buyers prefer to deal through unions, and are willing to pay better 

 prices, for the reason that they are sure of a uniform pack, and feel 

 that they are doing business with a business concern that will "make 

 good." The same feeling they do not generally entertain toward the 

 individual fruit grower, with whom they are seldom more than slightly 

 acquainted. And still perhaps more important than all this in connec- 

 tion with the union is the fact that the union always does business on 

 straight business principles. The advantages of a union in marketing 

 fruit over an individual are many. Let each individual present ask 

 himself if he is, or could be, posted daily on every market in the United 

 States. Let him ask himself if he has time to look up the rating of 

 every fruit buying concern that he might deal with. The grower's time 

 is completely taken up in his orchard work, which leaves him little time 

 to keep posted on the markets, or become acquainted with fruit dealers. 

 If he decides to market his fruit through a commission house, he does 

 not have time to look up other firms, and is not in a position to make a 

 comparison, consequently, marketing of fruit by the gi'ower is to a 

 great extent a matter of chance. I realize more fully than perhaps any 

 individual present the importance of these last few remarks, for the 

 reason that I have been manager of the Hood River Fruit Growers' 

 Union and the Hood River Apple Growers' Union for three consecutive 

 years, devoting practically all of my time to the marketing. I alone 

 could not acquire what is absolutely necessary in the way of informa- 



