a cooperative society with seven brothers as charter mem- 

 bers. This was in the summer of 1911, and marks the be- 

 ginning of the Oxford Bears' Fruit Growers Association, 

 ^luch valuable assistance was give us by the State Depart- 

 ment of Horticulture, through Mr. A. K. Gardner, the State 

 Horticulturist and Mr. G. A. Yeaton, Assistant. From the 

 success attained by the organization, it is apparent that from 

 the start the founders were on the right track. The chief 

 essentials for success in cooperation were present, and I 

 vrish that you would mark these few necessary things. 



First, as shown by existing conditions, the association 

 was born of necessity. 



Second, there was a sufficient supply of fruit being 

 grown in the neighborhood to assure us of enough business. 



Third, it was possible for us to hire as manager one 

 having some knowledge of marketing. 



Fourth, and most important of all, T consider, we had as 

 members men possessing the true cooperative spirit, a pro- 

 gressive outlook, and a willingness to stand back of the 

 organization through thick and thin. 



We incorporated our association under the laws of our 

 State with a captital stock of $1,000, this being divided into 

 two hundred shares of five dollars each. Each grower 

 subscribes to two shares of stock upon being elected to 

 membership. This entitles him to vote at all meetings of 

 the association. Only matters pertaining to the general 

 policy of the association are voted on in the regular meetings 

 of stockholders. IMost of the business is transacted by the 

 Board of Directors in whom we place considerable respon- 

 sibility. These Directors are five in number and are chosen 

 annually. Only tw^o new ones may be elected at any one 

 time. This Board elects the officers of the Association and 

 hires all of the employees, fixing their compensation. One 

 of the most important things that the Directors do is to de- 

 termine how the fruit shall be packed, and they have full 

 poWer to reject any lot not considered up to the standard. 

 Since so much depends upon the Board of Directors, we are 



