Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-11-18

little rest and recreation and try to
improve our minds during the winter
months. so that we can use better meth
DDS in the future.
Here in our county we are often met
by the question. "WelI, what good is your
society. anyhow ? " This question some
times staggers us. and we wonder il it
would not pay to Just give up the fight and
let each one hoe his own row, deciding
that hereafter we will adopt the very best
methods for ourselves, keep what we
know to ourselves, and, like clam, just
draw up into our narrow homes and stay
there. what good is our society " is a
burning question. True. it is not as great
as it might De. This society could be
made much greater than il is if everyone
would only come out and help US do all
the good he could.
What are our aims and objects First,
we wish to improve the conditions of the
people who are engaged in this work.
We strive to have able men to attend our
meetings and tell US of their failures and
successes. We aim by discussion to find
out all that we can on every subject per-
tanning to our work. We believe that in
multitude of counsel there Is much
wisdom to be learned. Often hearing
question ably discussed, one can draw
his own conclusions and follow such adj
vice as best suits his own condition.
Then. it should be our aim to raise
higher standard among ourselves, and in
50 doing we are working for the general
good of the public. If whole com
munlty could be relied upon to pack just
with the same care that our best packers
do we would have dozen buyers where
we have one.
We try to teach our people that every
dishonest package that leaves the state
hurts every grower in the state, and that
every honest package that goes out from
us is an advertisement for another one to
follow. We must teach our people to rely
on themselves; they must learn to pack
their own crops; have nerve enough to
put their own name and address on the
package and guarantee everyone that
leaves their orchard
When we have raised fine crop Of
fruit We must not pick It and then leave
it to lie on the ground in the sun to scaid
or rot. If we would ever expect to gain
q reputation as fruit-growing state we
must train our people to rely on their own
packing. Nothing that could suggest
would dc more. 10 advance our interests
han the adoption Of high standard
among ourselves.
What good IS our society," True, we
have MOI been able to do much, still there
are some things as the politicians say. 10
which we can poibt with pride. in the |
fight with the San Jose scale we bazed |
the way and every cent that h been
spent on that pest was spent at the re
quest of this society We have secured
laws 10 compel nurserymen coming into
the state 10 carry certificate showing
that they are authorized by someone to
sell their stock. We secured the passage
oil the San Jose scale bill, and, if il is not
enforced. it is simply because no one asks
for its enforcement. Then, we can point
10 what was at the ST. Louis fair,
and can say, that with the smallest APP
preparation of any state in the union, we
made one OF the best displays, and every
cent was honestly accounted for. These
are some of the things that we have &C
complished that everyone can see But
greater good has been accomplished 10y
meeting together, which stimulates each
OF us TO greater efforts along our own
lines Of work. Our society is before the
people OF the whole country. Let US
so carry out our work that no one will
again ask us what good we are anyhow.
This paper is already too lengthy, but
must call your attention 10 some vii !
questions which will come before you,
one of which is that Of incorporation.
We have an able committee which will
report on this subject. The question of
railroad rates is also one which should
command our attention. If we are being
Disseminated against, land ] think we
are,) we should find out what the remedy
and have il applied at once.
How to build up the local society also
should come in for share OF our atIenr
ton. Every fruit-erowing county il the
state should have strong local organi-
cation. For the first time in our history
the state board Of agriculture has pro-
vided for the printing Of the report Of this
meeting. We should, therefore, try 70
make this meeting as practical and profit