Evening journal., 1914-07-01

given to express more accurate
opinion as to the feasibility Of the
above plan that Senator Orlando Har-
rison, Of Berlin, Maryland, a nursery
man Of national reputation and him
self a large grower Of peaches and
other products. Senator Harrison's
estate embraces far more than thou
sand acres and with the gradual
increment of his business and his
holdings from small beginning, have
been applied the oft tested methods
OF organization and publicity.
The firm Of J. G. Harrison & Sons,
Of which. the Senator is a leading
member, has assumed a leading posi-
tion among the horticulturists and
growers Of the Peninsula, and has
been in the forefront of every move
ment looking to the improvement in
both the quality Of Delmarvia pro-
ducts and better methods of selling.
Senator Harrison is President Of the
Peninsula Producers Exchange, with
headquarters at Pocomoke City
Maryland, an association embracing
the growers OF the Eastern Shore Of
Maryland, ana which handled through
it more than s5OO,OOO worth of pro-
dice last year, mainly in fresh pota-
toes, sweet potatoes, canteloupes,
cucumbers and watermelons.
Senator Harrison. after a careful
study Of the plan of organization as
outlined by THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL, said:-
Il heartily agree with the sugges-
tions that you make and would
be glad to attend meet
ing to discuss them and which
would bring into closer touch
the various agricultural and canning
interests Of the Peninsula. At pre-
sent we down here on the Eastern
Shore are working along similar lines
through the Peninsula Producers
Exchange. However, as the scope of
our work is more or less limited by
reason Of the size of our possible
membership, think our members
would welcome an association which
would permit any enlargement of the
work, as covered by the most effec-
tive exchanges in this country"
Associated with the executive stan
Of J. q. Harrison and Sons is A.
H. Hardesty, for three years assis-
tant Secretary and Treasurer of the
Peninsula Producers Exchange, and
formerly Secretary and Treasurer Of
the Delaware Produce Exchange at
Dover. Mr.. Hardesty has been
an earnest student of growers ex-
changes throughout the country and
is exceptionally we'll informed along
the lines Of this particular work.
Mr.. Hardesty pointed out that a
coalition of the three exchanges
at present in operation on the PENN
sula of Delaware and the Eastern
Shore of Maryland and Virginia
would result in marked progress both
financially and in the grades of the
products grown. With the three or
ganizations handling through them
nearly s5,0OO,O0O worth of products
as they did last year. they could by
working IN unison further enhance
the reputation of Delmarvia products
with corresponding return financially
to the growers.
These three exchanges-the Del
marvia Produce Exchange. at Dover,
the Peninsula Growers Exchange at
Pocomoke City, Maryland, and the
Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce
Exchange at Onley. Virginia-at pre-
sent work entirely independent Of
each other. The Exchange at Olney
Is strongest Of the three and hand
led last year between s3,O0O,OOO and
s4,OOO,0OO worth Of produce, mainly in
Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes
and some strawberries. It seems
to have better support from
the growers of its territory
than the others and has been
an instrument of much good and
prosperity.
According to Mr.. Hardesty, the
Growers Exchanges throughout the
country, which have reached the
highest efficiency, are the California
Fruit Growers Exchange of Cali
fornia and the Florida Citrus Ex-
change, Tampa, Florida. Both of
these do business which is national
in its scope.
In the case of the California Ex-
change, the Exchange sets the time
for picking the fruit and sends men
to pick it,. grade and pack IT, When
it is packed, the Exchange pays so
much per box, covering the expense
TO date; then the grower waits until
the entire crop is disposed of and an
average of the selling price on each
grade is taken and the grower is
given a pro-rata of the profits based
on his output. This organization has
a central sales office and a number of
district managers who supervise the
collection of the fruit, ETC., at differ
ent points in its territory. These
advise the central Office of the output
they have and shipping instructions
are issued from there.
A well defined campaign of adver-
tising plays a most important part in