FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 189 



demand for apples became more active with an upward turn in prices, in in- 

 stances going above the $2.50 per barrel price for No. 1 stock. 



Considering that the apple crop of this section is one of importance, being larger 

 by considerable than some of the western places that do so much advertising, the 

 move proved to bring forcibly to the growers the middlemans part in marketing 

 our farm products. Plans were made at this meeting to form an organization 

 looking to the marketing of our own products. One difficulty has been the lack 

 of uniform grading which this organization proposes to take up, so as to be 

 able to form some plans for cooperative marketing of the apple at least. Michi- 

 gan can grow as good and with proper care better fruit than many other 

 sections and with a cooperative organization that would enable us to put up 

 uniform grades and cut out the unnecessary expenses the growers could get more 

 for their fruit and make it cost less to the consumers. The feeling is strong that 

 the methods now employed in Michigan are too expensive and far from being 

 up to date. It is hoped in time to have shipping associations in every consider- 

 able shipping place and in time to federate the whole for a better understanding 

 of fruit condition, size of crop and marketing. The successful cooperative buy- 

 ing by the State Horticultural Society gives us hope that in a short time we can 

 grow into some cooperative marketing plan. 



NORTHPORT FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION. 

 (Auxiliary to State Society.) 



OFFICERS. 



R. E. Flood, ....---- President. 



Antoine Bartlett, ...-.-- Vice-President. 



A. Bentall, ...---- Secretary-Treasurer. 



Antoine Bartlett 



Irving Ranger 



Isaac Garthe I. ..-..- - Directors. 



Robert Probst 



C. A. Baumberger 



Our Association has now 102 members. Meetings are held at intervals and 

 the best horticultural talent available is brought into touch with our member- 

 ship. 



We are buying largely of spraying material, cooperatively, also buy a good 

 many thousand trees in the same manner, we are thus securing the lowest pos- 

 sible price for spray materials, and the price of trees has been lowered very 

 much. 



The orchards in our locality are receiving far more care than formerly, several 

 power sprayers are now in the field, and a large number of good barrel outfits 

 are also in use, and there is a very large increase in interest in all horticultural 

 matters being shown on every hand. 



During 1911 we carried on an experiment in cooperative shipping, with which 

 all things considered we were well pleased. It is true that no high prices were 

 realized, because it was not a high price year, but we have demonstrated the fact 

 that for a shipping fee of five cents per barrel, and two cents per bushel basket 

 or crate, we can meet all the necessary expenses of cooperative shipping. This 

 fee paid for outside labels, statements inviting correspondence regarding the 

 fruit for the inside of every package, and printing a set of high grade rules 

 and specifications for grading and packing the fruit. Every shipper signed these 

 rules, and pledged himself to be governed by them, filing a copy with the secre- 

 tary of the Association. Also the above fee paid for all other printing, telephone, 

 and telegraph service, and for extra help in loading the cars. Iced-cars were 

 used up to the end of the season for wealthy apples, and ordinary box cars after 

 that. We have established a reputation for fruit packed under our label, and 

 have brought about a very much higher grade of packing than was prevailing 

 here before, also we have made it possible for the man having only a few bushels 



