LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR POSSIBILITIES 



133 



The following paragraph from a correspondent in Gardenville, 

 New York, vriW illustrate the point: 



"The most beneficial part of the organization was not the talks, 

 but the small round circles which always lasted until twelve, during 

 which topics of common interest were discussed. There was always 

 some one in the circle who knew what the other fellow did not know." 



PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES 



Soon neighborhood problems arise. One of the first that comes 

 up is the purchase of supplies. Fertilizers is a pretty good example. 

 Some sections save as much as eight dollars per ton on standard 

 brands. 



STANDARDIZING PACKAGES 



There are other problems. At Boston they have been able to 

 standardize their market boxes. They have a size that is now 

 established, and they are able to secure either the return of the 

 package or the price of it. I think likely the Arkport growers do not 

 feel that they have had a very great deal of benefit from their organi- 

 zation. It has done one thing that is worth while. They have 

 standardized their celery crate. Here is the way the thing has 

 worked out in Cleveland: 



"Our organization has done something along the line of standardi" 

 zation of packages. Since organization we can get better prices on 

 packages, etc., because the manufacturers know that changes in 

 pattern and sizes are not so frequent, and they are more easily 

 standardized through the Association." 



MARKET PROBLEMS 



Market problems come up. At Rochester the management of 

 the city market was handling the thing in such a way that it was 

 becoming almost impossible for the growlers to patronize that market 

 under anything like favorable conditions. They put their influence 

 together, and they now control the situation. The market gardeners 

 have one shed there together. The Troy IVIarket Gardeners' Asso- 

 ciation does not do a thing except get together once a year when the 

 stalls on the market are drawn, and they have secured an equable 

 allotment of those stalls that was impossible before. 



Perhaps you would be interested in a Stratford, Ontario, experi- 

 ence along this line: 



