36 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the society listened to a paper sent in by ^fr. I. 8. Linderman of South Haven 

 upon the topic 



ECONOMY IX MARKETING FRUITS. 



Gentlemen — Though deprived of the privilege of meeting \vith you per- 

 sonally, I liavc been honored by the invitation to contrilnite to the ''feast of 

 good things,'' to be served up by our society at this meeting. I accept the invi- 

 tation, and though my offering may add nothing to the richness of your intel- 

 lectual entertainments, it may possibly possess the merit of adding to its 

 variety. 



Economy in methods of marketing fruits, is the subject proposed for our 

 consideration, and it is certainly one of great practical importance to us. The 

 marketing of fruits is inseparably connected with their growing, each depend- 

 ing on the other for profit and success. The method of marketing depends 

 very much on the manner in which the fruit is grown, as well as tlie kind of 

 fruit, nearness to market and many other circumstances. The growing of fruit 

 for commercial purposes, as a business, is comparatively new, at least in our 

 own State, but it is increasing witli wonderful rapidity. This is the result of 

 various causes, among whicli we may mention a few of the most important as 

 follows : 



1st. The increasing consumption of fruits by all the classes of our citizens, 

 thereby keeping the demand fully up to the supply of good fruit. 



2d. The superior size, quality and beauty of our fruit, thereby encouraging 

 a still greater consumption. 



3d. Our central location and proximity to the principal markets of the 

 Northwest, our unequaled facilities for reaching them in the shortest time 

 with our fruit in the best possible condition and at a small expense. 



4th. Our unequalled climate, especially in the fruit belt, that enables us to 

 furnish those finer but perishable fruits that are in almost unlimited demand, 

 and that cannot be so successfully grown in any other locality in the North, 

 consequently furnishing us a remunerative market for all the good fruit that 

 we shall be likely to raise. 



The increasing demand, especially for the finer kinds of fruits in all parts of 

 our country, and the facilities for supplying them, have given fruit-growing a 

 wonderful stimulus, and in order to supply tliis demand it is necessary to grow 

 not only more Init better fruit. 



This necessity has caused a great deal of investigation and discussion as to 

 the best varieties of tiie different kinds of fruits, best soil, methods of cultiva- 

 tion, etc., and last but not least, the best methods of marketing. 



This question is one of })articular importance to every person who grows more 

 fruit than they need for home consumption, and the answer must necessarily 

 depend on so many circumstances and contingencies that where the crop to be 

 disposed of is large, it requires more real ability to secure the best results than 

 it does to raise the fruit. I must therefore treat more of general principles 

 than special instructions. 



The first principle that I wish to emphasize particularly is this, "honesty is 



c best policy;" that aside from all considerations of honor or conscience, it 

 will pay best. Some may think this is so obvious tiiat it needs no emphasizing 

 or enforcmg, but several years experience in the fruit trade has taught me that 

 honest fruit packing is the exception instead of the rule. 



