Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-02-08
ORGANIZE LOCAL
AND WILL SHIP
'MIDCA' BRAND
One Hundred Acres Signed AZ
Start In Middle Georgia
Growers Association

0ToWSfS <A5SOClaht0h
Sumter county melon growers yes-
terday joined the Middle Georgia
Melon Growers associationand crgail-
Iized local" following an address
to some fifty representative grows
ers Of the county by H, 1. Kennon, Of
Macon, representative Of the organi-
cation at the Carnegie library audi-
torium. At the meeting 100 acres,
the minimum for the formation Of q
local, were signed up, and many more
are expected. Farmers will have ul-
It'll the last Thursday in February to
enter their memberships.
1t was stated after the meeting
that the growers in the vicinity of
Cobb and leslie plan to organize their
own local" shortly, and that there
was possibility of similar action
being taken about Andersonville.
The address of Mr.. Kennon was
made before the annual reorganiza
ton meeting Of the Sumter county
Farm Bureau. He spoke in considers
able detail Of the plan Of organiza-
|tion, its successes and failures last
year, and the outlook for the coming
year. He brought out the following
facts:
Summarized Facts.
All melons marketed this season
through the Middle Georgia Melon
Growers association will be branded
with the word eMidga.n
No melons weighing less than ~
pounds will be shipped, and the minis
mum sizes by the car will be an av.
erage Of "a pounds.
Members will be obliged to thin
their fields TO one melon plant to the
hill and three melons to the plant,
this being)for the purpose Of making
larger and finer melons, maturing
moro uniformly and commanding /
better price. Il. ss
All members are required to- pay
fees Of 81 per acre for all planted
and marketing through Tic associa-
zion, the minimum fees of SIS being
payable upon joining and the remain-
der payable out Of first shipment.
The organization is mutual, non-
profit making marketing body, sins
liar to the Georgia Fruit Exchange.
and the fees are charged for the pay
ment of expenses Of organization and
operation. Directors elected BY Tho
various locals compose the bod
which fixes the charges for selling
Any surplus remaining at the end
Of the season viii be rebated to the
shippers.
One or more expert graders ard
shippers Of melons as arc required
will be furnished to each local for the
purpose Of insuring the proper hand
ling Of the crop of the members.
Reason for Thinning
Mr.. Kennon went into the reasons
for thinning the vines to one to a
hill and three melons to the vine. He
said experience had shown this to be
very high paying practice, and nec-
tssary to obtain high grade melons.
He said two brothers living near Ma
con planted the same acreage DC
melons last year, one of them resoIp-
ing to thin and prunc according To.
the rules and the other refusing to
do 50. Tht brother who .thinned his
melons shipped eight cars in two
weeks, at fancy prices, while the 9th.
er shipped only six ears in four weeks
at inferior prices, he said.
Last year was the first the Mid
die Georgia association had operated
1t was organized early III. the.
southern part of the state, covering
a portion Of the state not embraced
IN the South Georgia Melon Growers
association, and did splendidly in thar
section, averaging s194.77 per car
Tor all melons handled, against an
average of $64 obtained the year be-
fore by the same farmers undess no
organization. He said the success
|of b1e organization in the southern
|portion SO attracted the attention of
the Middle Georgia growers that they
insisted upon coming in on the or
lganization right at shipping time,
without having had time to make
preparations, either IN planting or
growing according to rules, and
against the advice Of the officials OF
the organization, the result being
Poor melons and little more success
than could have been obtained ssit-
side any organization. He said these
growers will follow the rules this year
and should obtain vastly different re-
suits.
Many local meIan growers who
were not Al the meeting ;trc expected
TO Join iH the marketing movement
before expiration of tie time liiiiit.
t FORMER u. s. TRANSPORT