Winter Meeting. 207 



down the price of material to $1.50, less than it was a few years 

 ago. Again organizations help to better transportation rates. Ex- 

 press rates are very high, but if we ship singly, our stuff must go 

 that way. Through organization we can ship in car lots, and this 

 is much cheaper, and the fruit cairies much better in refrigerators. 

 ■Better fruit means better prices. Organization has helped us to get 

 better railroad rates, and even where the rate is the same, roads 

 vie with each other to see who can give the best service. If single 

 growers would ship they could not get this service. Then organiza- 

 tion has stimulated the zeal of our growers wonderfully. A visit 

 to us during the packing season to see the immense business done, 

 to catch new ideas here and there, then to go home and practice, 

 is of great help. Then going out to each others fields and seeing 

 the methods that do the best, is another means of much improve- 

 ment. All this means better fruit and, consequently, better mar- 

 kets. We strive to better our picking and packing. Every one 

 wants to do the right thing if they just learn how. We appoint an 

 inspector who goes into the fields and watches the work done by 

 the picker and packer, both in the field and in the sheds. 



If he finds they are not doing good work, he shows them, and 

 they each try to do what is right. After all this care, the inspector 

 at the shed is an expert, and looks at every crate. If it is not packed 

 right, he lowers the grade and stamps it accordingly. When the 

 fruit goes into the market the gi^ade is always just as the stamp 

 upon it. We are very proud of our association. A report came a 

 few years ago that the Neosho berries were second only to the Hood 

 river fruit. The next year the same house said our berries were the 

 equal of the Hood river berries. The next year said our fruit was 

 better than the Hood river berries. While our berries may be the 

 equal or better than the Hood river fruit, I will not say that 

 we do as good work in packing, but we are trying to improve in 

 the handling as well as the growing. 



Secretary Goodman — Glad that Neosho presents us so much 

 good, fresh fruit along this line. If Mr. Christian would do as 

 much better, don't know where we would stop. 



Mr. Tippin said he approved the remarks of Mr. Graves re- 

 garding organization. Glad he shows that the commission houses 

 do not steal all the fruit, for Neosho people prefer to consign. Ne- 

 osho people found out long ago that success depends on the fruit 

 and the way it is handled. 



