SIXIEENTII ANNUAL MEETING. 123 



all agree as ti) the desirability of a law, establishing federal 

 inspection of frnit in this country, similar to the Canadian 

 "I'ruit .Marks Act," but I submit that, if every State in tlie 

 L'nit)n \\H»uld pass a law, compelling every packer of a closed 

 package of fruit to place his name upon each such package, 

 there would be a more reputable class of packing done, with 

 the result that better fruit would be produced and more fruit 

 consumed. t(» the increased profit of all growers. I claim to 

 be as honest as the average fruit packer, but I know that, if I 

 were obliged to place my name upon every package of fruit 

 that left our packing house, I would, for the credit of my 

 good name, take e\"en more care in the grading and p.acking 

 of our products. 



By referring to my hve diagrams, it will be seen at a glance 

 tliat the two plans showing the greatest number of faults are 

 those where the growers act as individuals — independent of 

 each other. In the three systems, where the largest number of 

 faults ]ia\e l)een corrected, one word and one thought stands 

 out most prominent — co-opcratioii! 



If agriculturists could be brought to realize what co- 

 o])eration might do for tliem and tlien act upon that knowledge, 

 who could live without paying them tribute? In my ex- 

 perience among fruit growers, I have found certain parasites, 

 who would oppose co-operation in any form, for no other 

 reason than that the less his neighbors know, the greater his 

 oi)portunity to profit b}^ their ignorance. 



Co-operation is the beacon light of emancipation to the 

 farmer and the only means by which that traditional fear 

 and suspicion, born of wrongs and injustices, as far back as 

 Jacob and Esau, can be dispelled. Where co-operation is the 

 watchword, the community is immune from the adventurer, 

 who figures farmers generally as his legitimate prey. 



This very interesting and practical address, so clearl}' illus- 

 trated with charts and figures, was attentively listened to, but 

 as the hour for adjournment Iiad arrixed, the discussion was 

 deferred until the afternoon. 



Mr. Bassett : In regard to the ''seedless ap]ile" question. 

 I honestly feel that we ought to take a very decided stand in 



