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Adams Col'xty Strawbekries are Beautiful and Deetcious. 

 CO-OPERATION IN MARKETING APPLES. 



Hox. S. L. LcPTox. IVinchcster, Va. 



Yonr president has invited me to talk to you tliis afternoon on 

 "Co-o])eration in Marketing Apples," and, as on day before yester- 

 day, 1 think I will ask to morlify the program and call my talk, 

 ''Co-0]jeration in Orcharding." Co-operation extends all through 

 the business of rjrcharding, not only in the marketing of the fruit 

 but in the growing of the orchard as well. I do not know just 

 why your ];rL-idcnt wanted this discussion this afternoon unless 

 because you lia\c failed, in your attempts at practical organization 

 as we have done in X'irginia, or unless you have tried and succeeded, 

 as we have not done in \ irginia. Mr. Cohill thinks the small apple 

 grower wdll be put out of business by the large company or syndi- 

 cate orchards. I believe that, if his business is ])n)])crl\' managed, 

 the small fruit grower will, in tlie future, raise tlie Ijest fruit and 

 secure the larger returns, provided he secures ])roper organization. 



There is quite a difference between fruit growing and ordinary 

 farming. Alost farmers consider fruit growing, to some extent, as 

 a side issue. In the first place, if any of you gentlemen have 50 

 bushels of wdieat or a load of corn to sell, you bring this grain to 

 the market and you are certain to get the market price for that pro- 

 duce. You know the price of timothy hay. Xo matter how small 

 \'onr cro]j may be. anrl no matter how little pains yc)U have taken 

 to a->.certain tlie price, you get the market price. That is not so in 

 fruit growmg. You raise your crop of fruit and you are ready to 

 sell it, then it becomes at once a battle of wits betw^een you and the 

 buyer. A^ou are at a loss wdiether to store, to sell it to a local buyer 

 or ship it yourself. You have no notion where or to whom to ship. 

 When you decide w^here to send the fruit you will likely strike the 

 lowest market. 



Let u- see in what wa}' a fruit growers' organization can help 

 us leaving out of consideration for the moment any question of 

 selling the fruit. 



