182 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



30 members. Since organization we have returned to our 

 members nearly $100,000. This present season we shall handle 

 nearly 8,000 barrels, and return the members $30,000. One 

 thing we think remarkable. In doing this large amount of 

 business we have never lost account of a single barrel or box, 

 and ivhat is still more remarkable, we have never lost a cent in 

 bad bills. 



While the most important achievements have been in the 

 marketing of our crops, we have also been able to save our 

 members considerable by purchasing supplies co-operatively. 

 We buy fertilizer, lime, spray materials, barrels, head liners, 

 pulp-heads and other materials in large quantities, thus taking 

 advantage of discounts. Last spring, by immediately accepting 

 an offer, we saved $60 on a ton of lead arsenate. 



At Hebron Station, our shipping point, we have built a store- 

 house one story high with about 2,800 square feet of floor 

 space. This building we have found very useful both in 

 shipping season and for the purpose of storing supplies we have 

 bought. This season, when the car shortage was troubling, our 

 members were able to keep right on hauling their apples and 

 putting them into the building. Then, when a car or two was 

 sent in, it was an easy matter to hustle the apples out of the 

 building and into them. 



One of the activities of our association is its winter meetings. 

 These were formerly held at the homes of some of the members, 

 but now at the storehouse. The meetings take the form of a 

 general discussion of any matters of interest in the growing or 

 marketing of fruit. They are held monthly and serve to keep 

 up the interest through the winter. All of the Bears turn out 

 for all day. The wives of our members provide a lunch, and a 

 general good time is enjoyed by all. Our biggest get-together is 

 the annual field meeting. This event is held in the summer 

 time in the orchard of one of our members. It is widely 

 advertised and every one is invited. We have had an 

 attendance of as many as 500 at one of these meetings. We 

 have been very fortunate in obtaining speakers, and have had 

 some programs of exceptional interest. 



I have now told you at some length of the main activities of 



