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 $5.50 
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. 
1 100 pounds net in one barrel. 
