FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATIONS IX THE MISSOURI VALLEY 121 



tee meet in this room tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock to perform its 

 labors. 



Now, I have long felt the need of such an association, but I did not 

 know how to go about it. I did not know what that association should 

 do, or what scope it should take, or anything of the kind, but the secretary 

 of the horticultural society told me if I would write to the Missouri 

 Experiment Station at Columbia I could get a bulletin published by that 

 association of the constitution and by-laws of the fruit growers' associa- 

 tions mentioned here this afternoon. Now, after the meeting in Auburn 

 had designated me as its temporary chairman, I felt that I should write 

 for that bulletin, and did so. I spent about a week studying those different 

 associations, their constitution and by-laws, their method of doing busi- 

 ness, and so forth, and the scope of their field, and when I had finished 

 I went to work on trying to formulate a constitution and by-laws for an 

 association that would fit conditions in Nebraska. After I had made a 

 draft I came to Lincoln and got in conjunction with the secretary of this 

 society and another man I had appointed on this committee of fifteen, and 

 we drafted a constitution and by-laws, and I hope that everybody will 

 have a copy of that tonight. 



Now, I feel, Mr. President, that this is an experimental improvement 

 matter, and personally I would be very glad indeed to receive the criti- 

 cisms, friendly, of course, they naturally would be, to the plan we have to 

 offer. If any one can give us something better, that is what we want. 

 If there is anything different could be done, or if our plan falls short, we 

 want it correct, so that when the association is formed we will have one 

 that will be workable, and one that will be practical, and one that will be 

 a success above everything else. 



Now then, the general outline of the plan we have is this: In the 

 first place, we formed a central association. We were divided in opinion 

 as to whether or not that should be confined to Nebraska as a whole, or 

 whether or not that should include our brothers across the river in western 

 Iowa. That is the question, as to whether or not we should do that. Per- 

 sonally, I do not think it would be a bad idea for the association to cover 

 that territory. We produce fruit of a similar character, similar varieties, 

 and similar quality. So that we could establish a reputation for fruit 

 coming from a certain district. We all know that apples grown in Cass 

 county, in Nebraska, or any other of the counties in Iowa across the river, 

 would be of similar quality, other things being equal. Or a Winesap 

 grown in Cass or any of the Nebraska counties situated in the south- 

 eastern part that the qualities would be the same. Now, whether this 

 association should start out and cover the Missouri valley, or whether we 

 in Nebraska should confine our operations to Nebraska, is an open 

 question. 



We proposed this form that there could be organized local associations 

 at the different points, the association to be composed of not less than 

 fifteen members, and they become members of the state association. The 

 state association would be incorporated with a capital stock, and a share 



