376 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



steadily increased until the maturity of our orchards and vine- 

 yards, about ten years ago. 



Since the association was started the apple acreage has 

 grown from 115 acres to about 2,500 acres. (This is acreage 

 owned by members; Pottawattamie county has 5,364 acres of 

 apples.) Our vineyards have increased from about 100 acres, 

 with a production around 40,000 baskets a year, to 500 acres 

 and an average production of about 300,000 baskets. 



The average price per basket in the last 11 years is a little 

 less than 19 (2 3^ cents per pound). Our average yearly price 

 has been as high as 25 cents in 1910, 24 cents in 1907, and as 

 low as 15 cents in 1912. I have with me our accounts in full 

 for the last 11 years, showing the amount handled of each fruit 

 and the prices received. I also have these figures plotted on 

 co-ordinate paper, so that if anyone is interested they may 

 compare them very easily with their own production and prices 

 received. 



I shall read the statements in part for 1912 and 1913. 

 The average prices received for the various small fruits for the 

 last seven years are as follows: Blackberries, $2.37 per crate 

 of 24 liquid quarts; raspberries, $2.82 per crate of 24 liquid 

 quarts; cherries, $2 per crate of 24 liquid quarts; strawberries, 

 $2.52 per crate of 24 liquid quarts. 



As I have said before, the original membership was less 

 than 20. This season's membership was 110. The original 

 acreage was about 115 acres of bearing fruit. The present 

 acreage is estimated at over 1,150 acres, excluding the apples. 

 These figures do not represent the amount of farm land owned 

 by the members, or any fruit not yet bearing, but are an esti- 

 mate on the actual bearing acreage. Since the organization 

 of our association the population of this territory has increased 

 60 per cent. The total acreage of bearing fruit has increased 

 nearly 900 per cent. The acreage of grapes has increased 500 

 per cent, and the acreage of small fruit increased about 50 

 per cent. This is a good evidence of the success of co-operation 

 in our community, as at the time of organization our growers 

 were even then producing more than the local market could 

 consume and we had as a market the three cities of Omaha, 

 South Omaha and Council Bluffs. 



At the outset the association was incorporated for $1,000, 

 divided into 100 shares of $10 each. Since then the capital 

 stock has been increased to $35,000 at $10 per share. Each 



