STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. I29 



for choicer fruit. That spirit of commerciaHsm which is satis- 

 fied with present returns must yield to that which seeks only a 

 permanent standing in the market. To insure this it must be 

 established that the contents of every barrel are true to name 

 and the brand of grade absolutely correct. The lack of uni- 

 formity among packers works injury to the industry. Respon- 

 sibility for relief rests with the grower. Shipping over one 

 million barrels this year Maine loses hundreds of thousands of 

 dollars for want of this guarantee of uniformity in grading. 

 The legal right to inspect would be an incentive to truer grading. 

 The reputation for a uniform standard of grading, packing and 

 branding would insure millions to New England growers in 

 advance over present receipts. Education can do much but 

 legislation alone can finally insure protection. That legisla- 

 tion must be either State or National. The union of the six 

 New England States covering a law to be passed by the legisla- 

 tures of these States is, in my mind, the step indicated and to 

 arouse to the necessity and benefit of such legislation our pres- 

 ent duty. This problem will never be settled until it is settled 

 right and right includes the highest price possible for the grower 

 and the absolute guarantee of straight grading, packing and 

 "branding to the consumer. To this we must bring the industry 

 and agitation will accomplish the result. 



Well will it be if we set ourselves to this task. Important 

 and necessary are the lessons which centre in fertilization, 

 selection of varieties, protection from myriad forms of insect 

 pests, growing, picking, grading, storing and marekting fruit, 

 but these are steps to one end and that end must also claim our 

 thoughtful attention, else nothing permanent is likely to be 

 gained. 



The transcendant demand upon us is to promote rural pro- 

 gress by kindling desire in every man to know himself, his capa- 

 bilities, and his limitations, that knowing these he may find the 

 life which will be attuned to the diviner harmonies. Co-opera- 

 tion and brotherhood are the watch words of the hour but these 

 may both be used as efficiently to foster vice as virtue, to work 

 violence as to build the walls of honor about the citadel of the 

 home. If the city is to be made safe the country must build 

 the defences. If the standard of moral rectitude is to be 

 advanced the conservative rural population must fix the princi- 



