34 STATE HORTICQLTURAL SOCIETY. 



mand large prices, however, and a few will suit their tastes, ia preference 

 to appearance, in fruit. The grower for a local market comes in contact with 

 his customers who soon learn to discriminate in their selections of fruit. 

 Many of them are amateur growers, who study with iaterest the cultivation 

 of fruit, and observe the introduction and development of new and choice 

 varieties in the fields of the professional grower. 



FINDING M.VllKETS AND REACHING THEM. 



The question of '^choosing and reaching markets" is of vital import 

 to large fruit growing communities. The consideration of these subjects 

 includes transportation and methods of marketing, and has resulted in com- 

 bination of fruit growers in the Pacific and Atlantic states and at various 

 points in the south. Combinations of fruit growers made many years ago in 

 southern Illinois, whereby fruit shipments to Chicago are made by the 

 ''Granger" fruit trains, have proved satisfactory to shippers and to the Illi- 

 nois Central railway company. Cars are furnished by the railway company, 

 at an agreed price per car, and sufficient cars are placed at principal ship- 

 ping points to make up a daily fruit train. The growers employ their own 

 agents to load cars and make bills of lading ; also agents in Chicago to unload 

 cars and collect freight bills from consigners, a pro rata charge being made 

 to shippers for cost of cars and other expenses. The Illinois Central railway 

 has given fair rates and every possible facility to the fruit interests of the 

 south. With the extension of its system, shipping facilities have been given 

 to fruit organizations in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisana. Among these 

 the "Inter-state Shipping Association" has gone aside from the main track 

 by sending carloads of fruit to points outside of Chicago. 



The magnitude of the fruit business, and the long distance from markets, 

 compelled an early organization of the fruitgrowers of California. Various 

 modes of co-operation were proposed and tried, which finally culminated in 

 the formation of the "California Fruit Growers' Union," which has proved 

 the most successful of any fruit organization extant. The union gives the 

 sole control of the business to their agents, who are getting reduced rates 

 from the great trans-continental railway lines for full trains of fruit. Sales 

 are made at auction, immediately on arrival at terminal points, of which 

 Chicago has received much the largest share ; but during the past season 

 shipments have been successfully made to the large eastern cities. 



The arrival of California fruit in good condition is only possible through 

 their system of gathering before maturity, shipping in refrigerator cars, and 

 their nice mode of packing only the best grades of fruit. 



Chautauqua county, N. Y , celebrated for the large quantity of grapes 

 grown, appears to be successful in obtaining cheap freights and distant mar- 

 kets through the " Chautauqua Grape Growers Union." 



The Delaware Fruit Exchange has been in successful operation two years. 

 The distinctive character of the organization consists in selling fruit from 

 growers' wagons at auction. The fruit is sold at large shipping points, and 

 being graded attracts numerous buyers from the eastern cities. The exchange 

 has recently been sujoplemented by the Baltimore Fruit Exchange, and the 

 "Bureau of Transportation and Distribution" These agencies have been 

 efficient in aiding in the disposal of the large crop of peaches grown in Dela- 

 ware and Maryland, the past season, no glut having occurred in the eastern 

 markets, and much better prices being received by growers than anticipated. 



