The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-30
GEORGIA MELON FIELDS.
THE GROVES MEET IN CONVEN-
TON at ALBANY.

The Attendance Larger Than ut Any
Previous Msstiug-A Committee APP
pointed to Pick Out Commission Men
to Hand the Crop-Sale Of Unmsrk-
etabe Melons.
ALBANY. GA, April 29.-Pursuant TO
call, the melon growers convention met In
the court house IN this city this morning at
10 o'clock The body was called 10 order
by President G. R McRea. The attendance
was larger than at any previous meeting
since the organization of the convention,
and a great deal of enthusiasm was dis
PLAYED bv the growers. President McRae,
chairman of the comm ttee appointed
previously to gather information as TO
freight rates for the coming season, re-
ported that the same rates as last season
would be maintained.
J. L. Hand moved that a committe be
appointed by the chair TO compile and have
printed in circular form, to be distributed
at all shipping points for the information of
growers. and to request that the leading
papers of the state be kind enough to pub
Iish them, a list Of commission houses to
handle this years crop. Only houses in
every way worthy of the growers patron
age and that would act fair by the growers
in the handling Of melons are to be
chosen.
TO SELL AT THE TRACK IF POSSIBLE.
Before the motion was put j. r. Forester
offered the following restitution and asked
the chair to take rising vote on 1t;
Resolved. That the melon growers make con-
signrnents to the houses selected by said COM
mittee only when buyers cannot be had at the
track.
The convention adopted the resolution
unanimously, after which Mr. Hands mo-
ton was put and carried looking TO the ap-
pointment of a market committee.
1t was suggested by j. R. Forester that
each member stand and give the name OF
some one at his shipping point to be placed
on the committee, thereby enabling each
point in the melon belt to be represented on
the committee. The suggestion was adopted
and a list of names of efficient men were
presented. The object of the convention in
this move was to secure, If possible, buyers
who will purchase the melons on the track.
The committee will meet in this city one
mouth from date and compile a list Of
houses.
UNMERCHANTABLE MELONS.
The question of the shipping of unmer-
charitable melons was taken up and earnestly
discussed for some time, and resolutions on
this line drawn up at the previous meeting
were read.
The following resolution was offered by
j. L. Hand in the interest Of the industry
WHEREAS, The experience of past seasons in
marketing melons has crystalized the principal
difficulties that environ the success OF the bust
ness, and the railroads yet, with that prudence
demanded by their experience, meet all our eff
forts to secure a reduction in rates with the
well established fact that by reason of the eff
forts of growers to market unmerchantable
fruit, a loss of a large per cent Of their
revenues is entailed upon them and the rate
committee at Tampa warned the growers
through their chosen representatives that I'M
less the practice of shipping inferior and IN
merchantable fruit be stopped the rates
melons would be increased, and the experience
of the growers demonstrates that the shipment
of inferior stock demoralzes the business by
Cutting the markets, reducing prices and other
wise initiating against the interest of growers;
therefore be IL
Resolved, That we urge strongly upon grow
ers the necessity and duty they owe themselves
and their neghbors to exercise the gre atast care
in the selection of melons for market, and we
furthermore recommend to the transportation
lines that they refuse all shipments of un-
merchandise melons unless the freight is pre-
paid. 1t is the sense of this association that
melons weighing less than eighteen pounds,
deformed. illshaped, sunburLed, green and
over-rpe are unrnerchautable.
Mr. HANDS RESOLUTION.
The following resolution was then offered
BY J. L. Hand and heartily indorsed:
Resolued, That this convention requests all
the railroads to unite in circular
refusing 70 move or give transporta-
tion to culls or understandable melons.
This leaves the matter entirely in the
hands of the grower. and if he will only
deal fair by himself and the railroads as
suggested by a prominent member and
grower, the roads will deal fair by him and
there will be no cause for complaint.
1t was stated by Hon. j. L. Long that in
his opinion this is the only way for the
grower to succeed, inspect his own melons,
be sure he ships nothing but the right sort
of melons aud load them properly, thereby
stunning all trouble and get fair returns.
THE PRESS THANKED.
In speaking of the probability of the
papers publishing the list of commission
houses, the chair took occasion to thank, in
behalf of the convention, the state press for
its kindness to the association.
The railroads were well represented, and
the chair, on motion, requested that the
railroad men say word to the BODY. Capt.
J. A. Davis, w. P. Hardee and others
responded in timely remarks. promising
all the aid possible from the various roads
in behalf of the melon growers. No other
business came up, and the convention
adjourned to meet In this city June 3.