STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 39 



saved from going to cities, the intelligence, social and religious 

 life of the community steadily rising, and we asked them if this 

 is not a natural outgrowth and reasonable prophecy of cooperat- 

 ing in all lines of business affairs." 



Instances are numerous in these associations where, at an ex- 

 pense of four thousand dollars for salaries, and on a capital of 

 less than twenty-five thousand dollars, a yearly business of more 

 than six hundred thousand has been carried on. From one-half 

 cent to four cents per bushel beyond the regular market price 

 has been paid for grain, and in addition the cooperators have 

 realized approximately thirty-three per cent on the paid up cap- 

 ital. I speak of this cooperation in grain dealing at this length 

 simply to call to your attention the great success attained by 

 one class of farmers, and the possibilities open in other lines. 



The banding together of the fruit growers of Maine, or of 

 any section of this State, for the organizing of this great indus- 

 try in a cooperative way, is a larger problem than simply organ- 

 izing for the sale of fruit. The enterprise should also include 

 cooperation in production, which involves many other factors. 

 This brings us to the essentials to be considered in the organiza- 

 tion. 



It seems to me that one of the first things to be realized is 

 that a sufficient amount of fruit must be raised to make the 

 region of enough importance to draw buyers. When a suffi- 

 cient volume of business can be guaranteed, not only are buy- 

 ers attracted, but transportation companies are usually quick 

 to make concessions in order to get business. 



Another lesson brought home to every one from the New 

 England Fruit Show was that the fruit must be of a high qual- 

 ity, and uniform, in order to compete with that from the Pacific 

 coast. When New England fruit possesses these two character- 

 istics, it can compete with, and will drive the western fruit from 

 our own markets. 



Cooperation in buying supplies is another important thing.. 

 One small association in the Hood River region saved its iriem- 

 bers twelve hundred dollars on spraying material, one thousand 

 dollars on wrapping paper, three thousand dollars on crates, and 

 four thousand dollars on boxes, in one year. To this list might 

 be added in Maine, the fertilizers ordinarily purchased. An 

 association in Maine should expect to build cooperage establish- 

 ments for the manufacture of barrels and boxes. 



