WINTER MEETING. 251 



upon the manner our citizens conduct their enterprises. Having our 

 orchards and berry fields, our vineyards with abundant crops, we must 

 have a market. The surplus must be converted into cash. 



This is the great question, and it is an overshadowing one. How 

 can this immense crop of apples, of peaches and the small fruits be 

 disposed of"? Co-operation will do it — and this alone, unless we are 

 willing to work for nothing, as some of our friends are doing in Cali- 

 fornia and Florida. It ought not to be hard to do the sensible, the 

 right, the practicable thing, but it does take long and earnest effort to 

 secure justice. This is not work for the State ; the Legislature cannot 

 help us ; we must simply act for ourselves in a sensible, practical way. 

 In very truth, co-operation is another word for salvation, so far as suc- 

 cess in fruit-growing is concerned. We must organize in a brotherly, 

 human way in every county where there is fruit to ship. In counties 

 where fruit-growing is conducted on an extensive scale more than one 

 society will be required — in Howell, Wright. Webster, Greene, Jasper, 

 Lawrence, Newton and other counties, some of which actually have 

 two societies each, officered by men of untiring push and of unswerving 

 integrity. 



What will be the work of these societies? 



To find a market for our products is the most important. If each 

 man is to act by and for himself, fruit-growing will be a losing busi- 

 ness, except to the few individuals or firms that have extensive 

 orchards, but we are happy to know that the men who grow apples by 

 the train load are working heartily and unselfishly for the grand prin- 

 ciple. Mr. President, there is, we believe, such a thing as brotherhood 

 on earth, and if there is, it must exist among horticulturists. To prove 

 this, let us organize. Co-operalion, of course, is especially required by 

 the average man ; it will enable him to get as cheap rates in freights 

 and as high prices for his fruit as the thousand acre-grower gets, if his 

 fruit grades as high. Now, it ought not to be necessary to urge men 

 to make the most from their investment, but it is, and it frequently 

 happens that services that are freely and unselfishly rendered are not 

 appreciated, but real philanthropists do not consider the matter of 

 compensation, even if it is to consist only of thanks. We know men 

 who have earned a large monthly salary, who have not received, nor 

 have they asked, a cent. They ought to have a unanimous, hearty 

 thank you. We know of men who, but for co-operation, would be 

 doing odd jobs as they could pick them up, who have bank accounts — 

 strawberry profits. Co-operation will increase the list of bank de- 

 positors and lessen the number who pay the bank interest. But, gen- 

 tlemen, the more indifference there is in this matter, the more need of 



