Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-04-25
UNITY in FRUIT SALES.
PRESIDENT ATWEIL DELIVERS
ADDRESS HERE ON METHODS.

PRESIDENT ATWELL DELIVERS
ADDRESS HERE ON METHODS.
Need of Central Exchanges in Mar.
keting Products of Northwest
Orchards.
! President HI. c. Atwell, of the State
horticultural Society, was the prin-
cipal speaker at the meeting of the
Dallas Fruit Growers Association held
in the Court House, Saturday after
noon. His subject was THE Central
Fruit Selling Agencies" topic with
which travel, experience and study
has fitted him to be considered in the
light of an authority. Prefacing his
remarks with a tribute to the scenic
beauty of the City of Dallas, which he
said was only second to his own town
of Forest Grove, he followed with the
statement that Dallas is fast earning
widespread reputation for being the
center of one of the best prune dis
tricts in the United States" and that
it was extremely fortunate in having
such reputation.
Prior to the meeting, in company
with j. B. Num-, Mr.. Atwell had made
a short trip of inspection about the
orchards near here to examine the
fruit buds, as to probable injury from
frost, in reference to which he stated
at the meeting that he had failed to
find any damage, and in his opinion
after visiting different parts of the
state, the damage elsewhere was not
worth mentioning.
Frost Injury Slight.
Following Mr.. Atwell's address, the
Reverend J. w. Jenkins, proprietor of
Bethel Heights Walnut Groves, who
was present, was asked to give his
opinion as to the effects of the recent
frosts. I'm my orchard" said he, II
have a number of two-year- peach
trees which were in full bloom at the
time of the frost. I think they are
mostly all killed, although 1 am aware
that it is hard to tell now. The Royal
Ann cherries are as large as peas, and
so far as / can see the trees have all
that they can carry. As to the prunes,
/ think the blossoms on the tops of
the trees are slightly injured, but 9TH
erwise they are all right. The apple
trees are not injured, because the
bloom is not far enough. out, and the
same is true of the ounces and of the
late pears"
In introducing his subject, President
Atwell gave an extremely critical and
comprehensive analysis of the great
problem that confronts all producers
of material modities-efficient dis
tribution-and of the economic condi-
tions which control it in all lines of
business. Continuing, he said:
Good Roads Essential.
Until we farmers shake off our
apathy toward the subject of good
roads, there is little use to talk about
closer organization. Cooperative eff
fort on the part of men who are COM
PEELED to wade knee-deep through
lakes of mud during the only season
of the year when they have leisure for
intercourse, is well-nigh
Our dread of taxing our
selves for any road improvement, the
for which will extend be-
yond the year of levy, operates as a |
severe handicap in our effort to grap-
Pile with large economic problems.
He then gave a full description of
the workings of the California plan,
under which each local association
it's own brand, and makes
such rules as it chooses as to pooling
its members. The various
local associations pack nearly two
hundred different brands of oranges
and lemons-all reliable and guaran-
iced by the Central Exchange.
The Local Association.
The unit and foundation stone of
he California system is the local, CO.
operative association. This is the unit
n which each individual grower ex-
srcises a direct, and not a delegated
voice. Here he learns the lessons of
Here the work of dis
is begun, and its success or
allure predetermined. Here is as
the largest aggregation of
,apital, as compared with the volume
If business transacted. The local as
iociations of neighboring growers
must be thoroughly organized, and in
rood working order, before a central
elling agency can succeed. The two
ihould develop simultaneously; but If
he development of one must precede
hat of-the other, the local association
of course, engage our first at
ention.