Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-02-20
Cooperation Of Fruit Growers.
Mr.. CoNANT TELLS OF THE OXFORD
BEARS ASSOCIATION.

The Agricultural Club of the Universi.
ty of Maine at Orono held It's first meet
ing for the spring semester on the even.
ing Of Feb. Z. The attendance was large,
the number being augmented by students
In the short courses in horticulture and
poultry husbandry. The educational
part of the program was contributed to
in very interesting manner by Mr.. w.
b. Conant Of Buck6eld, President Of the
Oxford Bears Fruit Growers Association.
Mr. Conant gave q very instructive talk
upon cooperative marketing of fruits.
Mr.. Conant stated that the Oxford
Bears Fruit Growers Association was Or
ganized to fill distinct need In the mar
keting of fruit; that at first its member
ship was limited for the reason that In
organizing cooperative association only
such persons should be admitted as will
agree upon essential points and hang TO-
gether. Since the organization other
men have been admitted and when the
business has once been placed on firm
foundation the membership will be
thrown open to any fruit grower who
may be interested and desire to become
identified with the work.
During the past year all OF the fruit
grown by the members Of the associa-
ton was placed in the hands of one man
to sell; no other member having the
right even to quote prices. As soon as
the organization Of the association was
announced in the newspapers it began to
receive letters from wholesale apple
buyers asking the association to quote
prices. A large number of these in
quiries were, received and within two
days of the time when an announcement
as to the amount of fruit on hand and
the price placed upon the same was sent
out, 800 barrels bad been sold by tele-
phone at price fully $3.50 per barrel
above market.
1t is the practice of the Association to
stamp upon each barrel and box the
grade of fruit 1t contains, and the aim
has thus far been to pack little better
quality of fruit than the grade called for.
A body of men acting together can es-
tablish a reputation quicker than one
man alone for the reason that more fruit
is available for sale. 1t offers advantages
to the buyer for the reason that he can
buy in larger quantities. This is always
an object to him. 1t is the plan of the
to employ bonded packer
so that no member will have anything to
do with the packing of his own fruit.
At this time Mr.. Conant exhibited
samples of Northern Spy apples taken
from the lot exhibited at the New Eng
land Fruit Show where 1t won the sweep
stake for New England and later won the
first prize at the Maine Corn and Fruit
Show held at Portland. The cry from
many people has been for larger fruit;
this idea is not exactly the correct one;
fruit can be too large. We should place
our greatest emphasis en- quality. In
shipping to Liverpool the criticism has
been that the fruit Is oftentimes too large.
A medium sized apple has the best sale
all over the United States and Europe;
In grading apples we make sure that No.
rs are all uniform and pack extra large
ones in the No. 2. We should emphasize
We believe that our label meant
lot to us before the shipping season was
Northen Spies have the repu-
taton of being poor seller in the Liver
pool market, but last year / sent my
urst lOG W tu0t uoiAOt ouo 80 ~
one merchant bought the en-
tire lot; thereafter he came to each boat
watching for other shipments
of Northen Spies bearing my label.
Two shipments sent later were picked
up by him. The Northern Spy tree Is
peculiar, it has the reputation Of being q
shy bearer, but have found that excess
i've nitrogen should be kept away from
the tree; it requires very little of this ele-
ment, and If We practice clean cultiva-
tion, fertilize properly, spray thoroughly
and prune intelligently the Northern Spy
tree will improve every year; 1t will
make handsome growth, and will bear
fruit liberally each year.
Mr.. Conant is taking the short course
in Horticulture and speaks most enthusi-
not only of the work being
done in the short course, but also of
what the College of Agriculture means
to the farmers Of Maine along educa-
tional lines.