S II muter Meeting. 121 



associations should make their arrangements with the loute agents in 

 time, so that with their assistance in distributing, different lines of road 

 or sections of the country could be supplied from the different shipping- 

 points, always bearing in mind to arrange your loading so as to avoid 

 transfers if possible. The idea being to get your berries to the market 

 as direct as possible. By reaching all the points that can be reached by 

 local express in this way that will take all the way from one crate to 

 three hundred per day, we can distribute lots of our small fruits to 

 good advantage, which will largely pre^-ent glutting the larger markets. 

 In conclusion allow me to suggest that the growers, the transpor- 

 tation companies, and the selling agents, or commission firms, who sell 

 our products get closer together, adopt more practical business methods, 

 and where we have been able to sell many packages and a number of 

 cars this season on track, we will be able to sell many more next year. 



Respectfully, 



Geo. T. Tippin. 



DISCUSSION ON DISTRIBUTION. 



J. Hensley. — The conclusion is that if the inferior fruit were dis- 

 posed of at home and the rest sold on the track, distribution would be 

 provided for; but when there is a car load on the track and no one to buy, 

 what then ? It is said the express, railroad and commission companies 

 'are all robbers, but I do not feel so. When eight and ten shipments of 

 berries are consigned at once and they have to be sold at a loss, the com- 

 mission men are not to blame. The way is to consume and can at home, 

 sell on the track and ship to large markets to be sold at auction. Have 

 an agent at the market to say when to throw the car onto the market 

 and sell to the highest bidder. Tind out what towns can use the fruits 

 and arrange with the express companies to take them there and send 

 as man}^ as will be consumed. Not one in ten has a good meal of straw- 

 berries, even this year. 



D. McXallie, Sarcoxie. — My experience has been that we are in the 

 hands of the railroad and commission men and must submit. There is 

 room for advancement, but that has not been devised. We could dispense 



