REPORTS OP DISTRICT AND LOCAL. SOCIETIES. 355 



ter of vital importance to all interested in the success of fruit culture and one that has 

 much to do with the welfare of our people has met with general neglect. As a result 

 there has been no perceptible advance or improvement made in the system of market- 

 ing the products of our farms and orchards in the last twenty years. 



The middleman still continues to stand between the producer and consumer, 

 ■demanding and obtaining one tenth of the entire crop for a remarkable small part of 

 the work. Now I believe it is generally conceded by our most eminent and able tinan- 

 ciers that no business can afford to have ten per cent, taken from it and expect to 

 remain in a prosperous condition for any great length of time. 



According to reliable estimates in seasons of fair crops of fruit, there is shipped from 

 Douglas, Saugatuck. FennviUe and the pier something over ;5,OoO,000 baskets of 

 peaches, to say nothing of the large amount of other fruits that find an outlet at these 

 points, such as apples, pears, plums and small fruits. 



After this fruit is laid down on the docks in Chicago and Milwaukee free, I believe it 

 will not be deemed an over-estimate to put the cost of selling it under the ten percent, 

 system at SIOO,000, and for cartage no less than §iO,000 must be paid, making a total of 

 ^140,000 for cartage and commission for selling the fruit, produced in a single 

 neighborhood. 



Now I don't believe there is a person present here today who has had experience and 

 has given this subject any thought but what will say this work should and can be done 

 for not to exceed one half of this amount. While the future is full of encouragement 

 and promise for the intelligent fruitgrower of Michigan, and perhaps it is safe to 

 assume that no branch of agriculture has been more remunerative for the capital and 

 labor invested, notwithstanding this the necessity and importance of usmg every legiti- 

 mate means of reducing the cost of production and marketing is becoming more and 

 more apparent each year and there is no reason to believe the near future will bring 

 any change in this respect. 



The tendency in every line of industry is to produce at the least possible cost, and 

 the business that fails to employ this means of increasing profits is pretty sure to fall 

 behind in the great and rapidly increasing commercial race being run in this country. 

 Competition in all lines of trade has become an important factor and, in order to sue 

 cessfuliy meet these conditions, organization has become the order of the day, to the 

 extent that there is hardly a business of any importance but what has its organization 

 for the advancement of its interests. 



These conditions call for a united effort among producers and for the adoption of 

 improved methods of reaching the consumer. 1 am of the opinion that profits to be 

 derived from fruit culture must in the future depend upon the extent to which growers 

 cooperate in reducing expenses. '"In union there is strength." This principle is well 

 understood by all. yet how difficult to put in practice, especially among farmers and 

 fruitgrowers. 



Cooperative effort for the purpose of mutual advancment and protection is commend- 

 able only when justly and wisely used and not carried to the extent that " Might makes 

 right," as has too often been done. The system of cooperation found but little favor in 

 the United States until within the last twenty years. Prior to this time competition, as 

 it exists today, was unknown. Then profits were so generally satisfactory that each 

 interest seemed to have been content to paddle its own canoe. 



During the last decade, associated elfort in most all lines of business has been quietly 

 and steadily making great advances in all parts of the country, Ijoth north and south. 

 Cooperation among fruitgrowers has been in successful operation in California, Dela- 

 ware and other fruit producing sections for a number of years and according to reports 

 has been of great benefit in obtaining lower rates for freight and a better system of 

 marketing. As an illustration of some of the benefits to be derived by cooperation, 

 your attention is called to the results obtained from the united effort of a few members 

 of the Saugatuck and (ianges Pomological Society and tlie Fruitgrowers' Association 

 of Pennville, in 18')1. As a result of the a<!tion, taken that season, a net saving to 

 growers and shippers of from thirty to forty thousand dollars was made on theoneitem 

 of freight. Not only was this amount saved to the shippers of this vicinity, but it fuily 

 demonstrated the fact that fruit can be carried by transportation companies with profit 

 at a much less rate than had formerly been charged for this work. 



Conditions are such that farmers and fruitgrowers must resort to united efforts in 

 obtaining fair rates for freight and in reducing cost of marketing, if they hope to suc- 

 cessfully solve the problem of how to receive a fair share of what is paid by the con- 

 sumer for their products. 



I am led to believe from past experience that cooperation properly managed and not 

 abused, can be made to accomplish grand results for all classes, but will doubtless be of 

 greater benefit to farmers and fruitgrowers than other lines of business, on account of 



