40 



'^GETTING TOGETHER." 



C. E. Bassett^ Fennville, Mich., President Fennville Fruit Shippers^ 



Association. 



In the words of the old colored preacher, "Before I begin my 

 talk I want to say something." I do not presume to come to you with 

 an idea that I can present any new or startling facts. I ha,ve fre- 

 quently noted that the value of gatherings of this kind lies not so 

 much in the new ideas received as in the inspiration or enthusiasm, 

 which results from an exchange of experiences. To any wide awake 

 man the spirit of enthusiasm is contagious and, noting the successes 

 of a friend or rival, is sufficient to arouse in him the determination 

 to excel in a similar line. Nine-tenths of life's failures are due, not 

 so much to an ignorance of methods, as they are to a want of the 

 proper energy to do as well as we know how. So, if I may be able 

 to add my mite in making this an ''inspiration meeting," I shall feel 

 amply repaid. 



The fruit grower, like the grower of any commodity, is chiefly 

 concerned with two factors, viz., the art of production and the art 

 of selling. Both of these factors must be given due attention if the 

 grower is to attain that degree of success which he should. He may 

 know the fundamental principles of fruit growing and be able to put 

 into the fruit package a strictly No. i or fancy article. This, how- 

 ever, does not always insure a return to the grower in keeping with 

 the grade and quality of the product. It is true that high class fruit 

 properly graded and properly packed will often take care of itself 

 and net handsome returns to the grower when placed in the hands 

 of the commission man, or even when placed upon the general mar- 

 ket. Unfortunately, however, this cannot always be relied upon, 

 and so we have come to realize that the producer must give serious 

 attention to the art of selling. It is certainly to his advantage that 

 this business end of things be no longer left with speculators who are 

 yearly securing larger returns for their labors than are the growers 

 of the product. It is as much our business to market what we grow 

 as it is to grow it. It is not enough for us as fruit growers to pro- 

 duce fancy fruit ; we should see to it that that fruit goes into the 

 hands of the consumer and that the prices paid us are entirely in 

 keeping with those high prices usually paid the commission man or 

 the speculator. That this can be successfully done needs no argu- 

 ment before such an intelligent body of horticultural people as I see 

 assembled here this afternoon. Many of our best fruit growers 

 throughout the country are attending to the business side of their 

 affairs in a business-like way, and as a result of these additional ef- 

 forts are reaping handsome returns. 



The reason why most fruit growers have hitherto given little 

 attention to the selling of their products is because of the fact that 

 their entire energy has been given to the production of the fruit and 

 its preparation for market. Their product is perishable, and where 

 sales cannot be made for spot cash it is often necessary to make con- 

 signment to commission firms. Probably no class of business men 

 are more thoroughly condemned or more fully trusted. Millions 

 of dollars worth of produce are sold by them upon honor with 



