STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. '117 



such grower on a barrel of apples is sufficient to sell the same at a 

 good price, even without the trouble of inspection. Now we wish 

 to do the same thing abroad. But who of us raise enough to make 

 any show in the thousands which are sent across the ocean? 



The plan which I shall present to you this evening is this : That 

 we form an association of fruit growers which shall oblige all its 

 members to sort their apples according to a set standard. This, we 

 think, can be done by appointing inspectors who shall show the 

 several growers how the apples must be sorted and packed. Each 

 brand will then be marked with the association brand or label giving 

 the name of the grower, requesting the party who buys the fruit to 

 notify our secretary if the fruit is not put up according to our stand- 

 ard. This will be a check on those who might be disposed to cheat. 

 We believe the brand of such an association, if properly managed, 

 with efficient officers, would be a guarantee for good fruit well packed, 

 and would give us a reputation and a profit, instead of a loss in 

 handling our apples. 



I think it is time for us to leave the middlemen, not that they are 

 getting rich at our expense, but because of their disastrous methods 

 of sorting. With the carelessness of most of the buyers in sorting, 

 our State must soon lose her reputation for first-class apples. Nor 

 is this all ; we are losing money all the time by this pinching policy. 

 Two-thirds of the apples would bring more money, with less expense 

 by far. We must have better sorting, better packing, and thus less 

 loss by rotting, wet and slack-packed apples. 



The officers of the association should keep its members informed 

 of the state of the market and give them the names of reliable firms 

 abroad to whom they can ship direct, and such other information as 

 shall enable them to sell in a good market, at a fair price. 



But to return. How will an association benefit the fruit grower? 



First. By teaching the proper methods of sorting and packing, that 

 the fruit may arrive at the market in such shape that the loss will not 

 eat up all the profit 



Second. By allowing only first-class fruit to be put in as No. 1, 

 and obtaining a better price, and in a few years establishing a repu- 

 tation which will command higher prices. 



Third. By selling direct to the wholesale dealers and saving two 

 or three commissions. 



Large interests are involved in this, and if the fruit growers are 

 sufficiently interested it is important that measures be taken at once 

 for an organization of such a society. 



