2o8 State Horticultural Society. 



COMBINATION OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR WORK. 



(Prof. A. A. Stark, Logan, Mo.) 



We trust that at length the time is come when fruit growers will 

 not need to be told that combination is a source of greater profit to 

 them. On every hand we have living examples of the results of com- 

 binations. But to know without action renders the knowledge use- 

 less. Combination is the key that unlocks the door to greater suc- 

 cesses and profits. Combination is the point at which we must now 

 apply the force to draw our interests to a greater success. All other 

 interests are combined; we are scattered to the four ends of earth. 

 They work shoulder to shoulder; we are working separately. If they 

 find it profitable to combine, why not fruit growers? 'We sometimes 

 blame others for our failures, when we are not doing all we can to help 

 ourselves. If God helps only those who help themselves, then surely 

 we need not look to Him for any greater success until we have moved 

 from the siool of disunion to that of union. 



Our local associations are just where the individual fruit grower 

 was twent}^ years ago. He found it necessary and profitable to join 

 his interests with other men in the same line of business and form 

 local associations. It now appears more profitable to join these asso- 

 ciations into central combinations. One of the strong points in favor 

 of centralization is that it will be a creature of power. It can get con- 

 cessions and favors where a local association would not have the 

 right to get or even ask. For example, take the buying of package 

 material. The central association could place the order for the whole 

 district early in the season. The manufacturer, knowing exactly 

 how much material to make up could take a less figure for his product. 

 He could ship his goods by the train load. If a car load is hauled 

 cheaper per hundred weight than a single hundred weight, could not 

 a train load of material be hauled cheaper than a single car? Again, 

 being an organization which represents many, it could get better ship- 

 ping facilities. The car companies would furnish spacious refrigera- 

 tors and not "hen coops." Ice could be furnished at a reasonable 

 price and always put in at the proper time and in suflficient quantities. 

 Freight rates could be reformed. Our fruit would not be hauled out 

 of the way, just to give a friendly road the business. The accomplish- 

 ment of these needs alone would amply repay us for all that com- 

 bination might cost. But this is not all. Uniformity is a factor of 

 success. Under centralization we could have a uniform package, uni- 



