21 



national Apple Shippers' association is authority for the 

 statement that apples packed in a good flour barrel, or sec- 

 ond hand regulation size barrel will bring as much money 

 in any market in the world as if in an absolutely new bar- 

 rel. 



Many co-operative enterprises, at one time prosperous 

 and full of promise, have fallen by the wayside through bad 

 management. This includes lack of a strong man at the 

 head of the business in distributing and selling products, a 

 lack of a thorough understanding of market conditions in 

 the big trade centers, and sometimes a lack of firmness in 

 maintaining a high standard of excellence in quality of 

 fruit and in packing. Long credits proved, among other 

 things, the death of one very successful co-operative fruit 

 shipping association located in New Jersey. 



This brief outline of the work of several co-operative 

 shipping associations points to the possibilities in this di- 

 rection here in New England, perhaps in some modified 

 form. • If not practicable for Massachusetts apple growers, 

 owing to the scattered location of the orchards, there are 

 at least hints of the good things to be accomplished in one 

 way and another by producers working together. In these 

 associations in the middle south two or three things stand 

 out prominently. Thorough organization, loyaUy of mem- 

 bers, wise management, absolute control of the business by 

 the man or men delegated to represent the growers, and 

 generous support to the principles of the unions. 



Summing up the situation the problem before every 

 fruit grower as each fall rolls around is to sell his apples 

 in the most advantageous manner, either single handed, or 

 co-operatively. Some of the thoughts outlined in this paper 

 may be summarized in a few Concluding paragraphs. 



Study thoroughly the co-operative movement as it has 

 been developed and reasonably perfected in other sections, 

 and see what can be done, or what applications can be 

 made in your own locality. 



For the large commercial orchardist, equipped with 

 adequate storage facilities at home so that he can hold the 

 fruit, it may not be unwise to reserve a part of his crop 

 for a time if bids are ridiculously low in October. This es- 

 pecially applies to certain varieties of winter apples which 

 may not be in favor early in the fall, but may be at Christ- 

 mas, or in February or later. If a number of growers in 



