40 State Horticultural Society. 



this season were under size, they sold at no profit, many of them at a 

 loss, and so the best grades had to pay freight on the inferior fruit. It 

 was resolved at the splendid meeting of berry growers who met in this 

 hall February 7 and 8, not to ship any of the small stock, but many 

 growers repeated the mistakes of past seasons and shipped unsalable 

 berries to compete with their own better grades. Associations should 

 make out statements showing the amounts received for each grade 

 shipped this year. If this is done next year there will be no sacrifice of 

 fancy and A grades to pay for freight on B and zero grades. Yes,, 

 indeed, there is over-production of small berries but not of large ones. 



Praise is due to the men who in the beginning of the berry industry 

 in this southwest country, backed their faith in the business with their 

 money, who helped to make up an acreage large enough to permit car 

 load shipments, but now, where there is an over-acreage the same public 

 spirit that influenced these business men to help build up a new industry 

 will influence them to decrease their acreage in berries and to plant 

 tomatoes, cantaloupes, vegetables, peaches, etc. ISTot so many berry 

 gTowers will buy hay for their horses after this, since they begin to 

 realize that grass is as profitable a farm crop as can be grown. 



The more we investigate supply and demand the greater the sub- 

 ject seems, and the firmer the position we have taken. We can prove 

 by witnesses now in this convention that there is not over-production^ 

 for they have not lost on a single crate and they have cleared from $100 

 to $250 an acre this year. True these are exceptional cases, but these 

 men do this every year. If they can make $200 from one acre others 

 can do it by groMang as fine berries. 



To conclude this paper without refering to co-operation and its in- 

 fluence upon supply and demand would be like leaving the keystone 

 out of the arch, for this grand principle is the key to success in berry 

 growing. With thorough organization the problem of distribution will 

 be solved. With organization we can secure justice from transportation 

 companies, we can get cheaper refrigeration. During the last five 

 weeks the berry growers have paid refrigerator car companies $50,000, 

 and they have paid besides this upwards of $70,000 for freight. At the 

 rate berries have sold this year it would take 200 car loads of berries to pay 



