246 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pete, and it is supposed that better prices might be realized, and a man 

 who could not attract a buyer with his own product might be able to do 

 his share toward attracting a buyer in the corporation. Some years ago 

 the creamery business was in something this same condition, but since 

 the co-operative creameries have been established the buyers have come 

 to these regions, and at Little Falls and other places people come from 

 the old world to look after the market. As regards attracting buyers, 

 co-operative storage has a good deal in it, but I do not think that the or- 

 dinary grower can afford to go into true cold storage. There is a new sys- 

 tem going into execution in Chautauqua county, which proposes to pack 

 the grapes of the persons forming part of the co-operative society. It is 

 figured that by having a co-operative plant there they can save in hand- 

 ling and shrinkage about a cent (I think) per basket on the packing of 

 grapes. This comes from the economy in handling a body of workmen at 

 the co-operative establishment, and by ihe baskets being bought in large 

 quantities. How valuable this plan will be, time will tell, but in respect 

 to the saving in cost of packing, there can be no question. 



A Member: There was in Mississippi, where they ship quantities of 

 tomatoes and early vegetables, sometimes seventeen carloads in a single 

 day leaving the little town of Crystal Springs — you will see in riding 

 through that section, at every station, immense sheds which have been 

 used for the co-operative packing of vegetables, but I am told that the 

 arrangement has not proved successful, and they are all abandoned. 

 They found so many diflSculties in the way of properly dividing and 

 arranging the crops, as brought in by different customers, that it was not 

 feasible to continue it, and it is not now carried out in any of the stations 

 along the Illinois road, where it was in years past a popular method. 

 It is exactly the plan suggested for Chautauqua county. 



Prof. Bailey: This is not an established practice in Chautauqua county, 

 but within the last year or so this other method has been proposed. There 

 is always difficulty in managing these affairs, because jealousies creep in 

 and it is difficult to control the growers, and those who bring in a poor 

 product are likely to object if their product is thrown out; but theoreti- 

 cally, at least, it ought to work, and I believe that one or two of these 

 institutions have worked pretty well so far during the present year. 



Mr. Morrill: Just one sentence of Prof. Bailey's last remarks brings 

 out something that I don't want anyone to try to answer, because it opens 

 up too large a subject ; but I wish someone, sometime, would tell me why 

 farmers can not or will not trust one another; why they will not do those 

 things they should do, to economize, but always, when they attempt it, 

 fall out with one another, while men we are pleased to call thieves at 

 every stage of the game can do these things — put millions of dollars in 

 and make fortunes, and we can not put together twenty dollars apiece, 

 to make a hundred, and trust any one in the neighborhood. I don't want 

 any one to try to answer that, but why are we so constituted? It is a 

 stumbling-block in our way for pretty nearly everything, from the fact 

 that you have to fight fire with fire; everything else is combined today 

 but farming. Co operation, in many things, establishes an outlet; and, 

 as Prof. Bailey says, theoretically it is correct. Why can't we do it? 

 Can not ten honest men in one neighborhood combine? Has it ever been 

 done? 



