FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 91 



that law against fraud, but there is no intention or representation on 

 our part that would warrant any such conclusion. I simply mention 

 this as an instance of where this law would seem to operate adversely to 

 a perfectly sincere and legitimate desire to do the right thing. The 

 views of this Society will probably have a large influence with the 

 Legislature and upon the sentiment of the localities where this fruit 

 is ])acked and where the prosecutions are brought. I wisli to let yon 

 know lirst-handed what we have been doing down in our locality, in 

 regard to the enforcement of this law, and whatever it may be worth 

 to you, you are welcome to it. 



Chairman: Are there any other remarks on this question? 



Mr. Smj^the: Mr. Holloway came here partly at my suggestion be- 

 cause I was called to the courthouse to talk with Judge Bridgman 

 about this law and its not working out as we hoped, and I wanted Mr. 

 Holloway to tell you about the two cases that have been tried down in 

 Berrien county, and how the trials came out. There are other laws 

 not working out as we had hoped and as I am on the Legislative Com- 

 mittee I want .suggestions from the members as to what we shall do. 

 I am perhaps as much resi)onsible for the writing of this law as any- 

 one, and while it seems to have some defects, at the same time, I think 

 it has done a world of good to Berrien county. What it has done else- 

 where, I do not know; I do not want to have it repealed, but if it is 

 necessary to make changes in it, in order that Michigan shall have 

 better fruit, I want those changes made, and I will be very glad to 

 get any suggestions you may give. 



Mr. Thomas : I might bring up something to illustrate how the pack of 

 Michigan is being thrown ui)on the market — I have in mind an orchard 

 that is right near me, that was not half taken care of. The original 

 owner of the orchard sold it for a small sum, and it changed hands 

 three or four times and finally after the apples had fallen off the trees 

 on the ground in piles, and sold, and the fellows scooped them up in 

 baskets, faced them over, the inner layers of apples being worse than our 

 cider apples, and after facing them over, sold them. But these apples 

 changed hands so many times, that it would be difficult to tell just 

 where the trouble was. Yet, that is called Michigan pack, and I say 

 that it is up to this organization to do something to prevent that sort 

 of thing happening. I think it is happening all over Michigan, as well 

 as in my community, and it is this that we growers who want to put 

 in good stuff have to contend with. It is certainly unfair to us and is 

 doing a lot to neutralize the good that can and does come to those who 

 pack honestly and see to it that there is in the package exactly what 

 is indicated on the outside. 



A Member: It seems to me that this law is a kind of a dead letter. 

 The fact is we are altogether too indifferent to just such things as has 

 been mentioned. The western states will not tolerate any such a thing, 

 not for a minute. Every bit of friiit there is inspected before it is sent 

 out. Why not have such an inspection for the State of Michigan? 

 When fruit has passed the State inspection or the inspection of this 

 association say, or any inspections that the law requires, the man had 

 to receive it at the other end, and there was no kick coming. Then 



