The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1910-08-05
THREE COUNTIES
LEAD IN FRUIT
Allegan, Berrien and Van
buren, Counties are
Closely Linked.
COOPERATION ADVOCATED
Splendid Review of Fruit Situation in
These Counties from Pen of
c. j. Monroe.


menced clearing my farm, and two
years later 0S62) set 500 peach trees,
/ planned to make a business of fruit
growing and farming. Inheriting my
fathers surveying outfit and his land
agency, helped drift me into the bank
ing business in 1867. The clearing of
land was continued. other trees set
and cared for, and in 1867 the first
peaches were shipped. | think rec
ords will show that they have been
sent TO commission houses in Chicago
or sold to local packers or Gamers
each year since except three. While
most of my time was required at the
bank, l have given considerable to
fruit and farm interests and taken an
active part in organizing societies and
attending meetings
Among she things connected with
the fruit business TO which | have
given much attention and deemed i'm
portant to aid it's best development,
was the grouping of Berrien, Van
Buren, and Allegan counties into a CO
operative organization for the raising
of better fruit and more business-like
marketing.
The completion of the railroad from
Kalamazoo and of the Pere Marquette
through these counties made them
quite accessible to their respective
residents. The losses from commits
sion men in the panic of 1873 and
those from frequent gluts caused by
overlooking the smaller markets by
many shipping to the same places, aid
ed in calling meeting at Grand
Junction, May 6, 1874, for the purpose
of cooperation of the growers of the
Dyckman, of South Haven, was elect
ed chairman, II. II. Goodrich of
Gauges, secretary. Among others
present were d. w. Wiley and Mr..
LaFleur, of Allegan county, J. p.
Thresher and w A. Brown, Berrien
and H. +. Bidwell and G. j. Monroe
from Van Buren,. A committee
was appointed to draft a Constitution
and Bylaws. Several meetings were
held but nothing came of it,
In 1876 it was my privilege to visit
the Semi-Centennial Exposition at
Philadelphia. The exhibit which most
attracted my attention, and which
have recalled most frequently, was
the really wonderful furniture display
from Grand Rapids, then a small city,
in the woods Of our own Michigan, lit
tie known outside the borders of the
state. The exhibit gave the city
worldwide advertising and made it a
leader in the manufacture and sales
of furniture. The feature which es-
pecially impressed me was the prac-
teal, intelligent and enthusiastic CO.
operation which made such magnifi-
cent display possible. As | had some
experience and considerable observa-
ton of fruit growing in Southwestern
Michigan realizing its natural eli !
matte, soil and market advantages. !
had learned some of it's needs of eX-
tensive and expert knowledge and
wide experience in properly selecting
the trees, plants and vines and their |
subsequent care and marketing of the
fruits. while viewing the Grand Rap
ids exhibit the thought came to me
that the same practical and intelligent
81.
would make this group a leader in
supplying the fruit markets of the
country
In a trip to California, in 1894 |
was pleased with their excellent co.
operative methods of marketing. For
a term of years they have led the
world in attractive packing and high
prices. Their long distance has com
PEELED the shipping of only the best;
our short distance has tempted the
sending of all sorts and we have lost
money and reputation by having our
poorest come in competition with
their best
May q, 1884, a meeting was held at
Grand Haven, seeking to join together
a larger number of counties, resulting
in the organization of the West Mich
igan Society" objects stated ITO unite
the fruit growers along the western
shore of the state for the purpose of
promoting the best methods of cult
waiting and marketing fruit" This
Society held number of meetings
and much came from them, although
little was accomplished along lines of
definite and persistent cooperation.
Last fall the writer had the privi-
lege of visiting numerous orchards in
Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Ore
gon, Colorado and Idaho, attended the
District Fair at Victoria and the State
Fair at Boise, also had two weeks stay
at the A. Y p. Exposition. This gave