THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. m 



are those who will cooperate and hang together. It will not 

 be necessary to have all farmers, or any farmers in fact, to 

 form an orchard company. With brains, capital, faith and 

 energy, success is very closely allied. We older farmers, many 

 of us at least, are creatures of habit, and it is quite hard to get 

 and keep us out of the old ruts we have so long been in. But 

 we older ones with our fixed ideas and ways are not to be 

 here long to block the wheels of modern business progress. 

 Educated young men are coming forward every day. Our 

 places are soon to be filled by others younger and more pro- 

 gressive than many of us are. There is no fear about coopera- 

 tive companies made from such material as may be had now, 

 not holding together and being successful. 



Millions of dollars are lying almost idle, waiting for pay- 

 ing investments. For investments not to-day worth ioq cents 

 on the dollar and to-morrow shrunk away to 50 cents and next 

 day to 25 cents. There can be no such shrinkage in money 

 invested in Connecticut farm lands. They are through with 

 their shrinking and are beginning now to come up again in 

 value. Some capitalists have already bought up large farms 

 and others are seeking like investments. 



Xow I am not a promoter of corporations, but there are men 

 who are trained to this work. Let a company of fruit growers 

 organize and look for a promoter to organize the company if 

 needed, and one will soon be found who can arrange all details 

 and start the company right, and besides find plenty of capital- 

 ists who would be very glad to join a company of this character, 



I do not know how long it will be before cooperative orchard- 

 ing will be carried into operation, but I do believe the time is 

 not far distant w hen such a movement will be inaugurated. 

 The beginning may not be large, but with time and experience, 

 I believe its growth would be healthy and rapid. With our 

 good roads, automobiles, rural free delivery and telephones, 

 the orchards or farms of a large corporation could be easily 

 and quickly reached, or communicated wdth, and the advice or 

 presence of the president or manager of the company could 

 quickly be had at any point it is wanted. With experience, 

 system and an expert man, his especial part to look after, 

 a very large business in fruit growing or general farming may 

 be carried on with but little if any more care to the president 



