22 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



they did things right, got at least ten cents for their grapes and they 

 started out at twelve cents. There were many at Benton Harbor who 

 sold their grapes for five cents, but even that was more than they were 

 worth. Two cars that I heard of went to Minneapolis, and were there 

 condemned and sold out and made into vinegar. I think we will get 

 money out of our grapes as soon as the grapes are delivered in the 

 righl way; but I don't believe we will ever realize what we should 

 until this phase of the subject receives more serious consideration. 



DISCUSSION. 



A Member — I think the grape grower is making all his own troubles, 

 at least to a large extent. 



A Member — I realize that we must do something. Apples are cheap 

 and yet within fifty miles of where I live they do not have any apples 

 at all, and are willing to pay good prices for right fruit. My apples 

 have gone all right; they were sold out in little towns and I believe 

 that: there are hundreds of little towns that would take every apple 

 raised in t lie State of Michigan, if they could be given a chance to get 

 them. The trouble is, we rush everything on to the big markets and 

 by so doing, the} r are glutted; and small fruits especially, being of 

 .! perishable nature, have to be disposed of at great sacrifice, or lost al- 

 together. 



A Member — I would not take it that Mr. Friday is opposed to organ- 

 ization, but that he does not consider the grape growers' association 

 up to the standard for the business. I am sure that the principle is 

 right, but his complaint is that it is poorly carried out. Everybody 

 is saying that something must be done and no one seems to feel com- 

 petent to tell just what that something is. It is hoped that we may 

 here formulate some plan or make some recommendations or take some 

 action whereby we will go on record in such a way that something will 

 be done when we get back to our homes. The trouble with so many 

 of us is that while the "spirit is willing, the flesh is weak." We are 

 not willing to put our hands into our pockets and back our plans 

 with our money. We must put our money up. It is a question of 

 "put up, or keep still." We cannot get out with one-half cent brokerage 

 and agents' agreement. But an association backed up properly will 

 do something, and the longer we put it off, the further away will be the 

 desired results. 



Mr. Friday — I am not opposed to the association or the association 

 idea when properly controlled, but what I do object to is an association 

 controlled by one man for his own use. 



A Visitor — Gentlemen and Ladies: When working men are paying- 

 all their wages for the necessities of life, they are not going to buy many 

 luxuries. The average wage earner, when he must take all his earnings 

 to buy bread and the necessities of life, will not stop to take baskets 

 of grapes home. The cost of living of the average wage earner, with 

 a family, necessitates a degree of economy that forbids spending very 

 much for luxuries; and it is for this reason that so little fruit is found 

 on their tables. Why! your sugar should be sold for 25 to 30 pounds for 

 $1.00 instead of 15 pounds as if is now. Whenever you wake, up to 



