STATE POMOLOGICAI^ SOCIETY. 6 1 



submit it to a committee for such action as may seem best. I 

 shall be glad to see our meeting take some measures looking to 

 an honest and uniform standard of packing and marking. I 

 enclose programme of our coming meeting. Would be glad to 

 have you meet with us, and take part in our deliberations. 



It will be seen that there is a general consensus of opinion 

 in favor of such legislation as will insure more uniform grading 

 and packing, the vital point being the framing of the sections 

 of the act so that all that is possible may be secured without 

 imposing unjust burdens upon individual growers. At the meet- 

 ing of the International Apple Growers' Ass'n at Niagara Falls, 

 Aug. I, after a full discussion of this subject, followed the 

 presentation of a paper upon "Inspection" by Prof. John Craig 

 of Cornell. Resolutions were offered looking to adoption of 

 standard grades on export trade. This law which it is the 

 intention of the committee to try to have passed, is to be some- 

 thing like the Fruit Marks Act of Canada which provides for 

 "optional government inspection." It was the sense of the asso- 

 ciation that this being a very important matter a committee 

 should take it up at Washington and use every influence to have 

 it become a law. 



At the annual meeting of the Fruit Growers of Massachusetts 

 I was invited to be present and discuss the question, much inter- 

 est being manifested in the subject, the secretary, Prof. Maynard 

 being constituted a committee to co-operate in investigating and 

 deciding upon final action. As the result of the correspondence, 

 discussion and action by different bodies I am convinced that it 

 is a subject so vital that it may well engage our thoughtful 

 attention, until, through united effort, a bill may be formulated 

 and its passage by Congress pressed, which will insure to the 

 growers of this country what now is impossible under the 

 present makeshift method of grading and packing fruit. 



One grower in Maine informs me that this year he sold his 

 Nodheads to a dealer and out of fifty-three barrels they put up 

 fifty of number ones. "Something," said he, "I could not pos- 

 sibly have done had I packed them myself." 



We may profit today by selling our fruit in the bin, but the 

 time will come when the reputation of Maine will suffer and the 

 buyers will not then be known. The State must bear the respon- 

 sibility and accept the loss. Another year strengthens the senti- 

 ment in Canada in favor of the Fruit Marks Act, and insures 



