DRIED FRUIT AND NTT ASSOCIATIONS. 477 



the product of the most skilful and painstaking growers. It 

 was evident that the gain to the stockholders in the one year 

 1892 far more than repaid the total cost of the cooperative 

 establishments, so that even if no further use should be made 

 of them there had still been a profit, but the greatest gain of 

 all was in the diffusion among growers of definite knowledge 

 of their own business, including the normal shrinkage in 

 drying of all fruits, the best methods of manipulation, the 

 necessity and profit of painstaking in every step of growing 

 and preparing, and the beginnings of an intelligent study of 

 marketing. No one has ever questioned the economic value of 

 these drying associations. • In districts where orchards are too 

 much scattered, they are not possible, as the ripe fruit can not 

 be carried over two or three miles in wagons without too much 

 bruising and waste, and the expense of hauling the fruit 

 before drying will average four or five times the cost of haul- 

 ing the dried product. 



In the spring of 1892 the promoters of cooperative organi- 

 zation, encouraged by the success of the first year's work of 

 the drying association, called a mass-meeting of fruit-growers, 

 which was held in April, in San Jose, and was largely attended, 

 the largest hall in the city being crowded to overflowing. 

 The discussions at the meeting developed a wonderful igno- 

 rance among the growers as to almost everything connected 

 with their business, beyond the actual growing of the fruit. 

 The wildest statements were made, and the most glowing pre- 

 dictions were ventured, as to the results to be expected from 

 cooperation. The meeting lasted all da}', resulting in a reso- 

 lution to effect an organization which should embrace the 

 entire district tributary to San Jose as a shipping-point, and 

 which should market the product of the drying associations 

 formed and to be formed, together with that of individuals 

 drying their own fruit, and a committee was raised to formu- 

 late a plan to be reported to an adjourned meeting. In due 

 time this committee reported articles of incorporation and 

 by-laws to the adjourned meeting of the convention, which, 

 although not more than half so large as the first, was enthu- 

 siastic and united, and, having agreed upon the form of the 



