WINTER MEETING AT LEBANON. 269 



Our expenses will all be reported upon by the treasurer, as the new- 

 law requires us to report to the State Auditor and draw our money as w& 

 need it. This requires us to present this report of our expenses every 

 time we draw any money from the State Treasurer. 



I have consequently every time buying anything kept a bill of it 

 and submitted it to the treasurer, and he will so report. 



Our membership I wish to change somewhat, so that each local 

 society will have just so many members as actually pay their member- 

 ship to their society. We ask all our local societies, therefore, to 

 revise their list and weed out those who do not take enough interest 

 to pay their dues to their society. 



If we could have an increase in life membership it would be a good 

 thing for ourselves and our society. I wish we had a hundred life 

 members, and that all that money could be used for a library and books 

 of fruits and plates. 



Transportation and marketing, the very important and all-essential 

 feature of our business, loses all its value if we fail to pick, handle and 

 grade our fruits. 



What I mean is that if we have the best of transportation, as some 

 have, an excellent market, as others have, quick communication, as 

 still others have, or even a market at our doors, as is often the case, 

 yet if we have all this, I say, and do not properly pick, handle and 

 grade our fruit, one-half our profit is gone. The instance given by 

 Prof. Clark in your hearing is but one instance in many that has come 

 to my knowledge. The same fruit graded to certain sizes will always 

 pay better prices than the same fruit not graded. Let this be our 

 motto : " Good measure, sound fruit, well packed, carefully graded 

 and fully guaranteed," and we shall have less trouble with our mar- 

 kets, commission men or transportation companies. If we can warrant 

 our fruits, as do our flour mills their flour, half our troubles are at an 

 end. 



And now, dear friends and members, here in your beautiful young- 

 city on the Ozark hills, which a few years ago many thought worthless* 

 we see such fruits, such orchards, such improvements, that it will not 

 be long ere hundreds of thousands of acres will be covered with fine 

 commercial orchards, and thousands of car loads of fruit be scattered 

 all over the country. 



I see here about you the apple orchard of America, as famed as 

 are the raisin fields of Fresno, or the wine fields of Woodland, or the 

 orange groves of Riverside, or the pear orchards of San Jose, or the 

 plum plantations of Vacca valley; and our peach orchards rivaling 

 those of Delaware and Maryland. 



