6 BULLETIN 1109, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



mission basis also. These methods proved to be wholly unsatis- 

 factory. The grower had no choice other than to accept the price 

 offered, which in too many cases did not cover production costs. 

 Furthermore, there were evidences which pointed toward collusion 

 on the part of some of the buyers with a view to depressing prices. 

 In 1902 there were 10 important car-lot cranberry shippers, and the 

 severe competition among them often resulted in "cutthroat" prac- 

 tices. 



It was the disastrous year of 1906 which actually brought about the 

 formation of a central cooperative selling association, the National 

 Fruit Exchange. Alliances among dealers were formed in that 

 year for the purpose of attacking other dealers. Competition of a 

 vicious sort was resorted to, some buyers offering the growers S5.50 

 a barrel ^ and quoting the trade $5. Rumors were afloat concern- 

 ing the financial standing of the different buyers, and a general 

 unhealthy condition was brought about. On top of the demor- 

 alized state of the trade came one of the largest crops that had been 

 produced up to that time, and the country simply would not consume 

 it. Prices fell as low as 70 cents a barrel, and carloads of berries were 

 never shipped because they would not bring enough to pay freight 

 charges. Notwithstanding these adverse conditions, such coopera- 

 tion as existed among the members of the Growers' Cranberry Co., 

 and the established reputation of their brands, enabled them to sell 

 their 1906 crop at fair prices. One member of the company received 

 an average of $6.51 a barrel net for his entire crop of over 8,000 

 barrels. All of the private concerns which handled berries that year 

 lost heavily and were pessimistic regarding the future of the industry. 

 In addition, there were prospects of a large increase in the production 

 of cranberries. Newly planted bogs would soon come into bearing, 

 and the growers realized that unless something was done the cran- 

 berry industry would soon be wiped out through lack of profits. If 

 the country would not consume a normal crop on the acreage then 

 in bearing, what would happen when this new acreage should begin 

 yielding ? This was the very real problem which faced the growers. 



The figures in Table 1 show that the forecasts of increased pro- 

 duction were correct. By 1909, just three years later, the crop had 

 increased nearly 200,000 barrels. 



1100 pounds net in one barrel. 



