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operative movement in dairying led to the formation of the- 

 Irish agricultural organization, and the work has taken- 

 shape in bringing other farm commodities under the co- 

 operative system, as poultry, fruits, garden products, etc. 

 Those identified with the management insist on packing- 

 farm products along modern lines, this counting for much 

 in the final disposition of the goods. Each society has found, 

 it necessary to give special prominence to the instruction of 

 its members. This ranges from a mere acquaintance with 

 the crude methods of growing, packing, etc., to technical 

 work along the different lines of agriculture. 



Co-operative enterprises in handling fruits and vege- 

 tables have made much more progress west and southwest 

 than here in New England. In order to inform you rela- 

 tive to the movement in other fruit and truck sections I 

 will cite briefly a number of instances. Fact is always 

 better than fancy, and practice more conclusive than theory. 

 A rapid glance at what is being accomplished in other sec- 

 tions should afford thought for practical application, though 

 of course in modified form, right here in Massachusetts. 



In the Western apple producing sections the movement 

 for co-operative marketing is in somewhat the same condi- 

 tion as here in the east ; fairly successful organizations here- 

 and there, but in the main apples handled independently. 

 Yet our investigations disclose some successful and encour- 

 aging work of this character, largely through the medium 

 of local organization. In the west, as in New England, im-- 

 portant fruit growing areas may be seen where there is no 

 special organization for the purpose of directing best meth- 

 ods of marketing. Each fruit grower in his own way fol- 

 lows an independent line of action, aiming to get the most 

 the market affords along the lines of his own experience. 



The occasional fruit marketing organizations of local 

 character, which are really succeeding, form an object lesson^ 

 worth our attention here in the east. For example : At 

 Cobden, 111., which is a great center for fruits and truck,, 

 there is a regularly incorporated shipping association. The- 

 manager of this makes it his business to make contracts- 

 with the transportation companies, and to secure the num- 

 ber and kind of cars required by shippers, and at the time- 

 required. In cold weather, for shipping sweet potatoes, the- 

 cars required in the daily supply are placed on side tracks; 

 ready to receive the barrels. In summer, when iced cars are- 

 needed for shipping such perishable stuff as strawberries,. 



