The morning call., 1891-11-12
A PRACTICAL YENTURE.

number OF frut-growerS of Niles, Ala
media County. have naugurated a move
ment that marks the dawn of q new era for
California fruit-g rowers. Becoming weary
of depending from season to season upon
The unsatisfactory market for their fruit
afforded by the CanneIies; approaching
fully the uncertainties attendant upon ship
ping green fruit 20 the home or Eastern
market, and unwilling to submit longer to
eXtortiOns, these growers decided upon
new method of procedure for this year.
Accordingly they dried large quantities of
such fruit as it was not convenient to mar
ket green. and under the direction of one OF
their number, who alone had tried the same
experiment, the preceding year, they shipped
last week train of twelve cars loaded with
this dried fruit direct to Chicago, where it
will command a ready market.
This transaction on the part Of the fruit
growers of Niles is but another Illustration
of the truth THE CALL has frequently
urged upon the farmers of this State-that
in united effort on their own part lies their
relief from the burdens laid upon them by
the cond tons of this industry.
The Isolated being is always defense
less one, and by reason OF the condition Of
industrial isolation under which he has here
t0foTe labored. the farmer is more than any
other toler the prey Of those who, by COM
bination and concerted effort. have obtained
control OF the market. He is at the mercy
of buyers. of sellers. Of transportation CON-
panies. and, in fact, of every class of men in
any way concerned in the handling OF his
| product after it leaves his gate There are
combines and unions among those who thus
reap the benefits of concerted effort, but
unity of action among the farmers is an
Idea Of but recent birth and limited extent.
The fruit-grower5 Of Niles have taken a
step in the right direction, but even they
viii not experience tie full benefit that they
might had they conducted their experiment
somewhat differently.
They, rs well as many other individual
growers, have learned that there Is more
profit 10 drying their fruit than in market
ing 1t green. a desirable market is spring
ing NJ, both in the East and abroad. for
California dried fruits. and there is small
prospect for very many years of this market
becoming oyerstocked. The same lab OF
aud expense that serves to harvest, dry and
pack the product OF one orchard would, with
but slight addition, handle the product of
the orchards of a whole section. Had the
progressive orchardists of Niles entered
into combination for the carrying on Of
this work, as well as for marketing tie
Iruit after it was dried, the result would
have been a saving of labor of handling and
corresponding increase in profit. More
over single large drying establishment In
competent hands would insure a uniform
quality Of product that, becoming known,
would always command a market. 1t
would do away, too, with the losses some
times experienced through individual fail
uTes resulting from accident, inexperience
OF lack OF facilities.
What the Individuals have done who
united on this single shipment the whole
section could do on a larger and, conse-
quentsy. more profitable scale. If the or
chardists would unite. put up a large dryer
and secure competent managers therefor.
the question of the annual marker for their
product would be virtually settled for
them.
What is said of dryer applies with
equal force TO a canning establishment, an
industry which THE CALL recently dis
cussed in this same relation. There is more
money to be made by the growers who pre-
pare their fruit for market themselves than
for those who sell to the Gamers or DRYERS,
and under the joinl-Stock system that has
been considered in this connection such en-
terDrises are perfectly feasible. Such es-
adjustments in different sections would 90
long way to render the growers indepen-
dent OF middlemen and the fluctuations of
the market. and to open up an era of pros
perlty for our farming communities that
would necessarily extend TO the cities and
towns. whose we!l-being is inevitably de-
pendent upon that of the country.