Summer Meeting. 121 



palate of our strenuous President and down to the humblest tiller of the 

 soil. 



OZARK FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



(G. A. Atwood, Secretary and Treasurer, Springfield, Mo.) 



The initiatory work of organizing the Ozark Fruit Growers' Asso- 

 ciation dates from January, 1903, when the need of wider co-operation 

 was urged. The first convention to act upon this matter was held in 

 Springfield, September 2 of the above year. There was a large attend- 

 ance from South Missouri and Arkansas, and a more harmonious and 

 enthusiastic meeting of fruit growers was never held. An organization 

 was efifected, and every fruit grower present joined the new association. 



The intention at first was to confine the business of the association 

 to marketing apples only, and it was agreed that this Ozark country, 

 with its 20,000,000 apple trees, required a strong general association to 

 protect and promote this immense orchard interest. 



The membership of the new organization was composed largely of 

 peach growers, and a majority were berry growers, and these members 

 urged that these fruits, that require prompt handling, should also be 

 shipped by the association, arguing that it would be better to have one 

 strong organization to handle all these fruits than to have three societies. 



At the meeting held in Bentonville, Ark., June 23 and 24, this same 

 year, which equaled the Springfield meeting in interest and excelled it 

 in amount of stock subscribed, after thorough discussion and deliberation, 

 the constitution and by-laws were amended so as to permit the shipment 

 of all fruit and vegetable products. 



Number of shares of stock, 2,000, $1 per share; number of shares 

 sold, 1,574, which leaves 426 shares for new members. 



Number of stockholders who have one share each, 226. 



It has been the policy of the management to place the stock in the 

 hands of as many growers as possible, but in the beginning it was found 

 necessary to appeal for larger subscriptions than $1, in order to raise the 

 $1,000 cash, which had to be paid in before incorporation could be 

 effected, consequently a number of the larger growers paid for 10, 20 

 and a few for 50 shares each. After the remaining stock is taken, if more 

 shares are called for, the owners of 25 and 50 shares will turn in a part 

 of their holdings. 



Besides the members, who personally own stock, there are thirty- 

 seven local fruit growers' associations in Missouri and Arkansas that 



