The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-23
Is There Overproduction
Of Fla. Citrus Fruits

fruit, that we must not bend oul
energies towards the millions who
are not now buying our fruit t.
make them become consumers of it
and regular consumers, too. 1t has
not been many years since the coun.
try knew nothing of the different
varieties of cereals that you find
practically every family in the Unit
ed States now using. The manufac-
turers of these goods created some
thing that was wholesome and good
for both the young and old, and then
proceeded to put them before the
public and into the hands Of the con-
sumers, and did it so systematically
and efficiently that we think that we
cannot get along without them, land
We can't"
There is no doubt but that it will
require the united effort and a
strong cohesion of growers of citrus
fruits to get the profitable results;
but why can this not be had? There
is not single potent reason, and
this also applies to the growers Of
vegetables in Florida as we'll as to
the grOwerse of citrus fruits. Con-
slider for instance the system Of
good roads that are now being built
in this State. How is this being
done? Are the citizens doing this
individually? Most certainly not;
they are acting collectively, and as
a unit; the trifling cost falling onto
each individual caused by bonding
the various counties for the building
of the magnificent network of road
ways now under process of construc-
ton and yet to be built is so insig-
nificant that it will never be felt,
and yet it is an asset to every one;
it enhances the value of property;
it increases efficiency, it is a time
and money saver and pleasure,
whether you are on foot or in a vc-
hicle. This system of good roads
will bring thousands of winter tour
lists, and of better class, to this
state, than have heretofore come,
who spend real money wherever they
20, and as well induce desirable and
permanent settlers.
Now, why cannot the growers get
together on the same plan of organ
lied effort and cohesion, and work
whole hearted and as unit, first in
improving the quality of ruit grown.
by better methods of cultivation,
spraying, Kidding their groves of the
different pests that they now have,
buying their supplies for both grow
ing and packing their products as a
unit, building and equipping and
owing their own packing plants as
community, putting the maximum
amount of ruit through such houses,
for actually what it costs, setting
aside trifling amount for advertis-
ing and otherwise creating demand
for your product; then put it in the
hands of we'll organized and eff
Gent sales agency to be sold; sales
agency who are in daily and hourly
touch with all markets, thus far
opened up for Florida fruits. and
who are developing new territory
and new methods of selling just as
rapidly as the amount of fruit placed
in their hands will warrant. This
is only common business prudence
and will surely put the citrus in
dustry on solid basis, and until
this is done, choas will reign.
The Florida Citrus Exchange was
organized for this purpose, and are
doing the things just enumerated,
and it is what the growers have
made it, and will be what the grow
ers further will make it. The day
is past when individual effort in
handling the crops of the soil. with
but few exceptions, will win. L
takes united effort, cooperative
methods, squared by the golden rule
OF do unto others as you would
have them do unto you," to accom-
plish results. This rule will not
only help us all financially. but
morally as well.