38 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



CO-OPERATION IN FRUIT GROWING AS PRACTICED 

 IN NOVA SCOTIA. 



W, H. WOODWORTH, BERWICK, NOVA SCOTIA. 



It is constantly remarked, and perhaps with a certain amount 

 of truth, that farmers, as a class, are so set in their ideas that it 

 is impossible for a body of them to work together to accomplish 

 any particular purpose. 



This co-operative movement, of which I am to speak to you, 

 was organized in 1907 by a few of the best fruit growers in 

 Berwick, a pretty village in the heart of the fruitful Annapolis 

 valley in Nova Scotia. The method of handling the fruit pro- 

 ducts of the valley prior to this date was very easy and emi- 

 nently satisfactory to a certain few individuals, but far too easy 

 and satisfactory to be much appreciated by the fruit growers. 



The European commission houses handling Nova Scotian 

 fruit had their agents over here. During the shipping season 

 these agents had subagents at nearly all railway stations from 

 which any quantity of fruit was shipped. On an appointed day 

 the farmer would pack his apples at home and haul them to the 

 station, where the subagent would make up carload lots and 

 forward on his immediate superior's orders. These apples were 

 then left to the tender mercies of the consignees, who, when 

 they eventually sold them, would commence piling up an ac- 

 count of charges that were really startling in their ingenuity. 

 A charge was made for every conceivable thing under the sun, 

 including commission for every one who had anything to do 

 with the apples, and when all was deducted that the consignee's 

 conscience would allow, the farmer received an account of sales 

 and sometimes a check representing what remnant of the wreck 

 remained for him. The farmers chafed under this system of 

 disposing of their products, but individually could do nothing. 



An attempt was made about ten years ago to organize some 

 kind of a co-operative movement, but owing to the fact that it 



