116 State Horticultural Society. 



SIXTH SESSION— Thursday Afternoon. 

 BEST PLAN m DISTEIBUTIONS OF SMALL FKUITS. 



By G. T. Tippin, Nichols, Mo. 



Mr. President: 



In attempting to prepare a paper to be presented to the society 

 to-day upon the topic assigned me, I assure you that I have realized in 

 part, the importance of the subject in hand, and fully realized my inca- 

 pability to present it as fully as it should be. One year ago we pre- 

 sented a paper at the West Plains meeting somewhat along the same line. 

 At that time, with one season's experience in co-operation for the dis- 



• 



tribution of fruits, we felt very much encouraged, and that we knew con- 

 siderable about it. Since that time we have passed through another 

 season, been in close touch with all the berry districts of south Missouri 

 and Arkansas, witnessed the operation of three different systems of dis- 

 tribution conducted by the organized associations, in the different dis- 

 tricts. We now feel that we know but little about it, and that but few 

 have yet fully realized the importance of this matter. More important 

 than the knowing how to plant, to grow, to harvest and pack, is know- 

 ■'ng the best method of distribution, and carrying it into successful opera- 

 tion. Failing in this destroys the possibility of any profit upon all labor 

 and expense necessary to put our products into the finished package. 

 Feeling that as yet we would not be able to suggest a perfect plan of 

 distribution, we hope that by a review of the work along these lines, 

 calling your attention to the good points as well as the weak ones, the 

 different agencies that enter into the distribution of our large and small 

 fruit crops that have a tendency to destroy the very object of our efforts, 

 suggesting what we think would be best, and the discussions that may 

 follow, we will be able to make a great advancement in this direction 

 before another year. One of two things are inevitable. A more syste- 

 matic and business way of disposing of our perishable products or quit 

 the business. No business will long continue that does not yield some 

 profit to those who are chiefly engaged in its pursuits. Taking this 

 view of the question the producer at once becomes the most interested 



