Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-10-01
MELON GROWERS ASSOCIATION.
Very Largely Attended Meeting Last
Saturday and Much Interest
Manifested.

All of the seats in the G.. A. r. Hall
were taken by the melon growers last
Saturday afternoon and some persons
were required to stand during the meet
ing. The very large attendance at this
meeting shows the great extent of this
leading industry OF tho Rocky Ford
country.
J. C. Kahn was chosen chairman and
s. L. Lester. secretary.
Mr.. Kain stated the object OF the meet
ing to be to form an organization for
mutual aid, there being strength in uni
ty. Some organizations similar to that
we propose have been very successful
We should get in position to protect
ourselves and receive fair reward for
our labor. The growers Of the valley
have sacrificed much this season and it
has mostly been their own fault. We
raise something that no other section can
and We can demand fair price for our
goods. Our error has been in competing
with each other in the various markets.
Canon City fruit growers have found
their organization of great benefit.
Jos. Weston, representing Kansas
CITY fruit house, was called on for bis
views. He said he had had much expe--
rience in handling perishable fruits and
prices were invariably reduced when tho
market was glutted, the buyer taking ad-
vantage Of the situation. BY organiza-
ton you have an opportunity to distrlb-
ute your products and 30 command pri-
will find it best to ship to only one party
Weston said that in handling the pro-
ducts of an association returns were
made to individuals or the association as
desired. As a rule, every mans goods
are sold on their own merits. The ship.
pers OF inferior goods will get lower pri-
ces.
Senator Swink was unable to be pres
ent, but sent the following letter:
"A few reasons why we should form a
Melon Growers Association nre:
with a view OF raising tho most narketa-
bic goods; to ascertain tho acreage that
can be marketed to advantage; tho inn
portance Of turner's only planting one
variety on account Of mixing; to compare
notes in regard to planting and cultiva.
ton with view OF producing the best OF
goods and as carly ns possible; the plans
OF gathering and Grating; the class OF
goods to place on the market; the plan OF
marketing; with IN organization we
would be prepared to confer with freight
and express companies in regard to rates
and service OF transportation; looking af-
ter tho business, and many other points
that might be mentioned.
The magnitude Of tho growing and
marketing Of cantnloupes can hardly be
realized by tho most sang,iine people.
It is now eighteen years since the first
cantaloupes were put on the market. At
that timc about oue-hnlf an acre supplied
the on,ire demand, which hns steadily in
creased from that time. Tho increase
lately has been many times creator than
at first, until today We ure growing many
acre. And further, for many years we
were bothered to get the right kind Of
a cantaloupe for the trade, but now we
have IN article that 10 not surpassed in
the United States, and still the quality
and preparation for market can DO i'm
proved upon.
One OF the most important parts Of the
business is the preparing and marketing.
We should only ship To any market what
can be consumed every day, or not more
thnn two days, 30 there would always be
fresh goods on tho market all the time
and keep tho price reasonable for the
grower and consumer. And with an as.
sociation we could afford to put man al
each Of tho important points to check the
goods out nnd report on time Of arrival
condition OF goods and anything else oi
Importance, such as sale OF melons by the
retailer, supply and quality OF home
grown melons. etc.
Allow mo to predict TINT II We organ
ize md run the business properly, TINT in
less than five years We will be SHIPPING
twenty cars OF cantalonpes daily, say 37t
sold for to tho retailer was SIPS pei
crate; out Of this tho average price oi
freight md commission would be As cents
per crate, leaving 80 cents net to the
grower. which would amount to $500 pei
car. Now take out $40 per car for load.
ing and all other expense, which would
leave ESQ per car, and twenty cans pei
day would mako S5 500 daily. Our sea
son generally runs about 60 days making
$4,000 for the season. Now, at tht
price givon, the retailer can sell to tht
consumer Mt cents each or 3 for II
cents mud make about SO per cent profit
To produce this amount viii take abou
2,750 ncres Of land in cantaloupes and
will average family to each ten acres o
land. think those figures are conserva
tive and more reasonable than eighteen
ycnrs ago to have predicted the loading
Of ono car a day in 1896.
1 think tho organization should extend
over NIL OF Otero county, and possibl,
more Of tho valley, and it ought to bt
dono this fnll.
10 buy our crates, boxes and basket,
to the best advantage It might be best tc
organize Melon and Fruit Growers
Association.
Tit is the wish OF the melon grower,
to organize il suits mo-"
A. @. Conner had always favored an u.s.
sociation and gave instances OF shipments
during the past season involving losses
which would not have been suffered had
there been cooperation among the ship.
pers. Furthermore, mnny commission
men are thieves. Two Denver houses
scooped us by encouraging too large
shipments. The returns this year have
not been satisfactory. Tho first ten cara
ho shipped were away up in price, the
next ton much below. When we organ.
ize how shall We cut down tho shipments
when the markets arc floodod2 How
shall we proportion the shipments among
tho large and small growers? II is bet
ter to leave the melons in the field than
ship them at a loss. We can double .his
years receipts by prudently controlling
the shipments. We have this year paid
the railrond and express companies more