194 State Horticultural Society. 



label on well-packed fruit soon becomes known and asked for in the 

 market. Besides, the name and address of the grower a fruit package 

 label should contain the variety and grade of fruit contained. I do not 

 believe there is a more important factor in successful fruit growing 

 than the proper packing and labeling of fruit. Like "Lownies' Name on 

 Every Piece," it stands for the best. The producer is proud of it, and 

 it brings the top price. I know growers of fruit in this country whose 

 names I'd like to see on packages of fruit, and I'd buy those packages 

 unopened. 



In the markets of our large cities will be found special brands of 

 fruit that have become known as the very best, and that often sell for 

 fancy and even fictitious prices. A notable example is the Rocky Ford 

 cantaloupe. A decade ago no such brand was known, though the Netted 

 Gem muskmelon was found in the open market in competition with many 

 other varieties of melons. This little melon was selected because of its 

 high quality, and was grown under the most favorable conditions pos- 

 sible at Rocky Ford, Colorado. By selecting to a very netted type a 

 select strain of Netted Gem was grown that gave very round, netted fruits 

 of about a pound each, with very few "slicks." This strain was called 

 the Rocky Ford cantaloupe. The growers combined to grow only this 

 one type of melon and to pack and label it in one way. A year or two 

 sufficed to fix the brand on the market, and now scarcely any other 

 variety of melon is found on our markets but Rocky Fords, and they 

 bring the highest price everywhere. I saw them selling this summer for 

 $6 and $7 per case. The case contained 3x3x5 — 45 melons. The fruits 

 have a special label, and are placed in the case so that the ribs of the 

 fruit all run lengthwise of the package. This may seem a trifling thing, 

 but it gives the package a special appearance and helps to hold its unique 

 position on the market. Hood River apples is a brand that is found 

 in the market wherever high-class apples are called for. This brand 

 is newer than the Rocky Ford and is not yet a decade old, but its demand 

 in the market has been phenomenal. This year I saw two-layer cases 

 containing 4x5x2 — 40 apples selling for $1.50, nearly four cents per fruit. 

 This is almost like the sale of oranges. Instances might be multiplied 

 of the wonderful trade being built up on special fancy brands of fruit. 

 The lesson is obvious. With a yachting and automobiling people there 

 is always great demand for fancy grades of the highest priced fruit. 



NEED OF CO-OPERATION. 



Perhaps the greatest aid to successful fruit production today is co- 

 operation. Many small lots of good fruit are sacrificed in the wholesale 

 market of our large cities because they are lost sight of in the great 



