SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 117 



Co-Operative Shipping and Marketing. 



By C. E. Bassett, Secretary JMichigan State Horticultural 



Society. 



The fruit grower, like the producer of any commodity, is 

 chiefly concerned with two factors, viz. : the art of produc- 

 tion and the art of selling. Both of these lines of work must 

 be given proper attention, if the growler would attain that 

 degree of success which he desires. The first requisite in 

 successful marketing is to have a first-class article to sell, but 

 even that condition is not all sufficient. We must see to it that 

 our fruit goes into the hands of the consumer in the best possi- 

 ble condition and that the prices paid us are an equitable share 

 of what is paid for the fruit by that consumer. 



The reason why most fruit growers have given so little 

 attention to the marketing of their products is because their 

 entire energy has been devoted to the production and prepara- 

 tion of their fruit for market. Our products are perishable 

 and where sales cannot be made for spot cash, it is often 

 thought necessar}' to make consignments to commission firms. 

 Probably no class of men are more generally condemned or 

 more fully trusted. Millions of dollars of fruit and produce 

 are sold l)y them upon honor, with scarcely a restraint or 

 check upon their actions, except such as may be dictated by 

 polic_y or their own conscience. (I place that word "con- 

 science" in the singular number, inasmuch as some of the 

 profession seem to be lacking that appendage.) It is little 

 wonder then that selfish and dishonest men enter this field of 

 trade, to the constant annoyance of decent men and that such 

 suspicion, as may be engendered by rascality, will often attach 

 to the best firms in the same line of business. I honestly be- 

 lieve that commission men, as a rule, will compare favoral)ly 

 with the men who patronize them. My criticism is not so 

 much of the men in the commission business, as it is of the 

 unbusinesslike system. I am pleased to note that by another 

 form of co-operation the National League of Commission 

 Alerchants are placing their business on a more reliable and 

 satisfactory basis. However, if you enjoy shipping on con- 



