300 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



not hope to say anything that would interest you in any wise about the produc- 

 tion, the care, or handling of fruit, for in these things I am still hut an hum- 

 ble learner, and shall take it for granted that you know these things quite as 

 Avcll as any, and far better than most men. In quality or abundance no State 

 surpasses us in jn'oportion to the area cultivated ; in tiie manner of handling 

 and packing, our fruit-growers are superior to any of their coni]K'titors east or 

 west. The beautiful ajipcarancc of our fruits when they reach the inarkets 

 attracts the attention of the most casual observer. 



But there is one subject which, it seems to me, has not received the attention 

 its importance demands : I refer to the proper markets for our sur})lns fruit. 

 I do not tloubt that you have given the subject tliought enough, or tiiat you 

 have been anxious enough to find these much desired places, yet I do not learn 

 that this society, as a society, has ever taken any action in this direction, which 

 I believe to be of as much importance as the production of fine fruits. The 

 practice which so universally obtains at present, of sending everything to the 

 largo cities for distribution, in tlie absence of any united action on our part, is 

 the only practicable thing to do. For any one man to attempt to reach all, or 

 any of tlie small markets of the great west, with his products would be simply 

 a waste of time and money. There is so mucli distrust of strangers all over 

 the land, engendered by tlie often practiced tricks of unprincipled men, who, 

 like the individuals spoken of in scripture, go about seeking — -if not whom 

 they may devour, at least whom they may cheat and defraud — that no one man 

 is able to give assurance enough that he intends to deal honestlv with them. 



Moreover, there seems to be a necessity for some place where fruits may be 

 had, and had at all times, in any quantity required. Hence the country dealer 

 naturally seeks some such place as the Chicago market, \vhore he is sure to find 

 what he wants. And tliisfact being known to both the producer and consumer, 

 they both seek the same market, the one to sell, and the other to buy. But 

 this mutual accommodation is attended with a great outlay of time and money. 

 Frequently it costs the consumer as much to freiglit his fruits from Chicago as 

 it would direct from our orchards. Then he has the cartage to pay twice in 

 Chicago, and the commission of ten per cent, once at least, and commission 

 men are made of purer stuff than other men if they are satisfied with one 

 commission. 



Now it matters not which way you count this, whether the consumer or pro- 

 ducer has the money to pay, it is certain that at least one-fifth of the value of 

 the fruit shipped to Chicago, is paid to middle men, that might be saved to the 

 consumer or producer, if the transaction could take place directly between 

 them. But to bring about tliis much to be desired object is a problem, as yet 

 unsolved. 



That there is a denuuul for all the fruit which we do or can produce, I have 

 not the slightest doubt, especially for that class of fruit for raising which we 

 are so iieculiarlv well fitted. In all of the territorv north of a line running west 

 from Chicago to the Kocky mountains, and so far nortli as we can get, the 

 iuhaljitants must depend upon Michigan for their supply of peaches and other 

 tender fruits. This territory is larger than the original thirteen states and the 

 next thirteen that were admitted into the union, and already contains a popu- 

 lation of about live millions. Wiien it has become as densely populated as 

 Massachusetts, it will have about one hundred and seventy-five milHons of peo- 

 jilc. Will it be possible for Michigan to supply all this people with fruit and 

 feed our own })opulation at the same time? In view of these facts, as I said 



